Role of Aldosterone and Potassium Levels in Sparing Confirmatory Tests in Primary Aldosteronism

Abstract

Context

The current clinical guidelines suggest that confirmatory tests for primary aldosteronism (PA) may be excluded in some of patients who have elevated plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) under plasma renin suppression. However, this has low-priority evidence and is under debate in use of serum potassium.

Objective

This study aimed to investigate an appropriate setting for sparing confirmatory tests in PA.

Design and Setting

A retrospective cross-sectional study in a single referral center.

Participants

This study included 327 patients who had hypertension under plasma renin suppression and underwent the captopril challenge test (CCT) between January 2007 and April 2019. CCT results were used to diagnose PA.

Main Outcome Measure

Diagnostic value of PAC and serum potassium in confirmation of PA.

Results

Of the studied patients, 252 of 327 (77%) were diagnosed with PA. All 61 patients with PAC > 30 ng/dL were diagnosed with PA. In patients with PAC between 20 and 30 ng/dL, 44 of 55 (80%) were diagnosed with PA, while all 26 with PAC between 20 to 30 ng/dL who had spontaneous hypokalemia were diagnosed with PA. The proportion of unilateral PA determined by adrenal vein sampling (AVS) was higher in patients who had PAC > 30 ng/dL or those with spontaneous hypokalemia who had PAC between 20 and 30 ng/dL than those who did not meet the criteria (76% vs. 17%, P < .001).

Conclusion

Confirmatory tests in PA could be spared in patients who have typical features of PA and these patients had a high probability of unilateral PA on AVS.