肾上腺静脉采血在原发性醛固酮增多症分型诊断中的价值

肾上腺静脉采血是近年来在我国兴起的一项新技术,本文通过不同方案,采用不同的参数及切点,分析其在原发性醛固酮增多症分型诊断中的敏感性和特异性,并与肾上腺计算机断层扫描（CT）等手段相比较,阐明其在分型诊断中的地位和价值。     

Change in the pattern of adrenal venous sampling over time in patients with primary aldosteronism

We report six patients with primary aldosteronism who had serial adrenal venous sampling. Patients with contralateral suppression of aldosterone to cortisol ratio compared with that in inferior vena cava developed lateralization over time whereas patients without contralateral suppression remained with a bilateral pattern.     

肾上腺静脉插管取血在原发性醛固酮增多症分型诊断中的意义

目的　探讨肾上腺静脉插管检查在原发性醛固酮增多症 (原醛 )分型诊断中的应用价值。方法　临床 14例明确为原醛患者 ( 11例腺瘤及 3例增生 )经肾上腺静脉插管检查 ,取双侧肾上腺静脉以及肾静脉水平下的下腔静脉采血 ,测各点醛固酮和皮质醇水平 ,并将结果与影像学检查及术后病理结果进行比较。结果　腺瘤患者插管结果与影像学检查及术后病理结果无统计学差异 ,符合率为 81 82 % ( 9/ 11) ,3例增生患者插管结果与影像学检查结果均相符。结论　肾上腺静脉插管检查在原醛的分型诊断中有较好的准确性 ,是影像学检查有疑问时可选择的良好方法。     

Measurement of 18-hydroxycorticosterone during adrenal vein sampling for primary aldosteronism

CONTEXT: In primary aldosteronism, elevated serum 18-hydroxycorticosterone (18OHB) suggests aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) rather than bilateral, idiopathic hyperaldosteronism (IHA), but little is known about the relative production of 18OHB and aldosterone (A) in APAs compared with IHA. OBJECTIVES: We measured 18OHB, A, and cortisol (F) in blood from adrenal vein sampling (AVS) studies. We compared the discriminatory power of gradients in 18OHB/A and 18OHB/F ratios with A/F ratio gradients for distinguishing APA from IHA. DESIGN, SETTING, AND SUBJECTS: We measured 18OHB and A in excess serum from 23 AVS studies performed at our university hospitals. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We calculated the ratios 18OHB/A, 18OHB/F, and A/F for all specimens, and determined the adrenal vein gradients for these ratios. RESULTS: The 18OHB/A ratios were much lower in blood draining APAs (2.17 +/- 0.62) than in blood draining the contralateral adrenals (12.96 +/- 12.76; P < 0.001) but similar to blood draining IHA adrenals (4.69 +/- 4.32; P = 0.02). In contrast, the 18OHB/F ratios were elevated in specimens from APAs (26.03 +/- 11.51) compared with IHA adrenals (9.22 +/- 5.18; P < 0.001) or the contralateral adrenals (6.23 +/- 2.97; P < 0.001). Using 18OHB/F gradient greater than two or 18OHB/A gradient less than 0.5 as criteria for lateralization, interpretations agreed with lateralizations based on A/F gradients in 21 of 23 cases. CONCLUSIONS: High serum 18OHB in APA reflects augmented production of both 18OHB and A, not disproportionate 18OHB secretion relative to A. The 18OHB/A and 18OHB/F gradients are useful adjuncts but not as reliable as A/F gradients for A lateralization during AVS.     

Effect of adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation during adrenal vein sampling in primary aldosteronism

Adrenal vein sampling (AVS) is fundamental for subtype diagnosis in patients with primary aldosteronism. AVS protocols vary between centers, especially for diagnostic indices and for use of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation. We investigated the role of both continuous ACTH infusion and bolus on the performance and interpretation of AVS in a sample of 76 patients with confirmed primary aldosteronism. In 36 primary aldosteronism patients, AVS was performed both under basal conditions and after continuous ACTH infusion, and in 40 primary aldosteronism patients, AVS was performed both under basal conditions and after ACTH IV bolus. Both ACTH protocols determined an increase in the rate of successful cannulation of the adrenal veins. Both ACTH infusion and bolus determined a significant increase in selectivity index for the right adrenal vein and ACTH bolus for the left adrenal vein. Lateralization index was not significantly different after continuous ACTH infusion and IV bolus. In 88% and 78% of the patients, the diagnosis obtained was the same before and after ACTH infusion and IV bolus, respectively. However, the reproducibility of the diagnosis was reduced using less stringent criteria for successful cannulation of the adrenal veins. This study shows that ACTH use during AVS may be of help for centers with lower success rates, because a successful adrenal cannulation is more easily obtained with this protocol; moreover, this technique performs at least as well as the unstimulated strategy and in some cases may be even better. Stringent criteria for cannulation should be used to have a high consistency of the diagnosis.     

Management of primary aldosteronism in patients with adrenal hemorrhage following adrenal vein sampling: A brief review with illustrative cases

The authors describe the clinical investigation of two cases of primary aldosteronism with adrenal hemorrhage (AH) following adrenal vein sampling. A literature review was conducted regarding the medical management of primary aldosteronism in patients with AH following adrenal vein sampling. Guidelines on the management of primary aldosteronism with AH following adrenal vein sampling are lacking. The two patients were followed with serial imaging to document resolution of AH and treated medically with excellent blood pressure response. Resolution of AH was achieved, but a repeat adrenal vein sampling was deferred given the increased morbidity risk associated with a repeat procedure.     

Primary aldosteronism due to unilateral adrenal microadenoma in an elderly patient: efficacy of selective adrenal venous sampling

We encountered a case of drug-resistant hypertension and hypokalemia. Laboratory data suggested primary aldosteronism (PA). Computed tomography imaging appeared normal for a long duration with a left-sided nodule appearing far later; adrenal scintigraphy was first normal, and the second test showed right-sided uptake. However, a repeat selective adrenal venous sampling (SAVS) indicated a left-sided lateralization of the hypersecretion of aldosterone. Left adrenectomy was performed, and his clinical symptoms improved. The histopathological findings demonstrated the aldosterone-producing microadenoma with secondary micronodules. In conclusion, SAVS should be performed to determine the laterality of PA with obscure CT imaging.     

New concepts in adrenal vein sampling for aldosterone in the diagnosis of primary aldosteronism

Improved diagnostic techniques and adoption of a systematic and thorough diagnostic workup can lead to identification of the surgically correctable forms of primary aldosteronism (PA) far more frequently than expected. Adrenalectomy can provide long-term normalization of blood pressure and correction of PA in most patients with an aldosterone-producing adenoma. Forms needing surgical correction are generally held to be less common than forms requiring medical therapy; however, this can be a misconception arising from the lack of systematic use of adrenal vein sampling (AVS). Currently AVS still remains the “gold standard” for identifying unilateral causes of PA that are surgically curable. The criteria for selecting patients to undergo AVS, the technique for performing AVS, and the criteria for analyzing and interpreting its results are summarized here.     

Comparison of adrenal vein sampling and computed tomography in the differentiation of primary aldosteronism

Determination of the etiology of primary aldosteronism remains a diagnostic challenge. The most common types of primary aldosteronism are bilateral adrenal hyperplasia (BAH), aldosterone-producing adenomas (APA), and primary adrenal hyperplasia. Computed tomography (CT) and adrenal vein sampling (AVS) are the primary modalities used to differentiate these subtypes. The purpose of this study was to compare AVS and CT imaging of the adrenal glands in patients with hyperaldosteronism in whom CT imaging was normal or in whom focal unilateral or bilateral adrenal abnormalities were detected. The diagnosis of primary aldosteronism was made in 62 patients based on an elevated plasma aldosterone to PRA ratio and an elevated urinary aldosterone excretion rate. Thirty-eight patients had CT imaging and successful bilateral adrenal vein sampling and were included in the final analysis. AVS was considered the gold standard in determining the specific subtype of primary aldosteronism. There were 15 patients with APA, 21 patients with BAH, and 2 patients with primary adrenal hyperplasia. Plasma aldosterone was significantly higher in patients with APA (46.3 +/- 8.5 ng/dL; 1284 +/- 235 pmol/L) than in those with BAH (29.3 +/- 2.4 ng/dL; 813 +/- 11 pmol/L; P < 0.05). Plasma potassium was significantly lower in patients with APA (3.1 +/- 0.1 mmol/L) than in patients with BAH (3.5 +/- 0.1 mmol/L; P < 0.02). There was considerable overlap in the other biochemical indices (e.g. PRA and urinary aldosterone) in patients with the different subtypes. In patients with APA proven by AVS, eight had concordant findings with CT imaging, four had discordant findings, and three had normal CT imaging. In patients with BAH proven by AVS, four had concordant findings with CT imaging, eight had discordant findings, and nine had normal CT imaging. Compared with AVS, CT imaging was either inaccurate or provided no additional information in 68% of the patients with primary aldosteronism. We conclude that adrenal CT imaging is not a reliable method to differentiate primary aldosteronism. Adrenal vein sampling is essential to establish the correct diagnosis of primary aldosteronism.     

肾上腺静脉采血在原发性醛固酮增多症分型诊断中的应用

目的探讨肾上腺静脉采血（AVS）检查在原发性醛固酮增多症（原醛症）分型诊断中的应用价值。方法收集瑞金医院近4年来39例临床确诊的原醛症患者[23例特发性醛固酮增多症（特醛症），16例醛固酮瘤]，经肾上腺静脉插管检查，取双侧肾上腺静脉以及肾静脉水平下的下腔静脉血液，测各点醛固酮和皮质醇水平，并将结果与影像学检查、体位激发试验（PST）及术后病理结果进行比较。结果（1）23例特醛症患者体位激发后血醛固酮较基础值均升高；16例醛固酮瘤患者血醛固酮升高者占56．3％（9／16）；（2）特醛症患者肾上腺B超检查符合率为69．6％（16／23），醛固酮瘤患者为56．3％（9／16）；肾上腺CT检查特醛症患者符合率为73．9％（17／23），醛固酮瘤患者为81．3％（13／16）；（3）AVS检查以两侧醛固酮之比作为判定标准时符合率为71．8％，以醛固酮与皮质醇之比为判定标准则达到100％。醛固酮瘤患者生化异常程度较特醛症患者明显。PST在特醛症及醛固酮瘤中有部分重叠；体位激发后血醛固酮升高者不能排除醛固酮瘤，而血醛固酮下降者可诊断为醛固酮瘤。结论单纯依赖影像学检查对于原醛症患者进行分型诊断易发生误诊。AVS检查的准确性高，对于影像学检查未能发现明显占位性病变者须进行该检查以明确诊断；对于AVS结果，用两侧醛固酮与皮质醇的比值之比分析较单纯比较两侧醛固酮之比更为可靠。