Determination of the aldosterone/renin ratio in 269 patients with adrenal incidentaloma.

To determine the prevalence of primary aldosteronism among patients with incidentally discovered adrenal adenomas ('incidentalomas') plasma concentrations of aldosterone (PA) and plasma renin activity (PRA) were determined in 269 patients (100 normotensives, 169 hypertensives) newly referred incidentaloma patients. Among the 100 normotensives a PA [ng/dl]/PRA [ng/ml.h]-ratio (A/R-R) >50 and a concomitant elevation of PA (>15 pg/ml) was initially seen in two cases but further investigations excluded the presence of primary aldosteronism in both patients suggesting a prevalence of primary aldosteronism of <1% among normotensive patients with adrenal incidentaloma. Among the 169 hypertensive incidentaloma patients 14 presented with both, an elevated PA [>15 pg/ml] and an A/R-R >50. Primary aldosteronism was confirmed in 6 of this cases resulting in a prevalence of primary aldosteronism among hypertensive incidentaloma patients of 4%. Although obtained in patients with a supposedly high pre-test probability of primary aldosteronism this percentage--while in keeping with the older literature--is surprisingly low given the recently reported large(r) prevalence of primary aldosteronism among hypertensives in general.     

醛固酮/肾素比值在原发性醛固酮增多症筛查中的临床价值

目的 回顾分析瑞金医院内分泌科近5年怀疑原发性醛固酮增多症患者的资料,用受试者工作特征( receiver operating characteristic,ROC)曲线下面积评估醛固酮/肾素比值(aldosterone to renin ratio,ARR)在诊断原发性醛固酮增多症(原醛症)中的临床价值.方法 收集瑞金医院内分泌科2006年1月至2010年8月行卧位及立位ARR测定的590例怀疑原发性醛固酮增多症入院患者的临床资料,其中确诊为原醛症的患者357例,确诊为原发性高血压的患者233例.分析瑞金医院内分泌科2010年9月至2011年4月行随机及立位ARR测定的100例怀疑原醛症患者的临床资料,其中确诊为原醛症的患者29例,确诊为原发性高血压的患者71例.综合分析卧位、立位及随机ARR ROC曲线,以确定合适的切点用于诊断原发性醛固酮增多症.结果 2006年1月至2010年8月行卧位及立位ARR测定的590例患者卧位ARRROC曲线下面积为0.838(0.805～0.867),立位ARR ROC曲线下面积为0.873(0.843 ～0.899),两曲线下面积比较有显著差异(P＜0.01).2010年9月至2011年4月行立位及随机ARR测定的100例患者立位及随机ARR ROC曲线下面积分别为0.962(0.928 ～0.995)及0.944(0.893 ～0.994),两者比较无显著差异(P＞0.05).立位ARR切点为400(pg· ml-1)/(ng·ml-1·h-1)时,诊断原醛症患者的敏感性为91.9％,特异性为64.2％.结论 立位ARR比卧位ARR更适应作为原醛症的筛查指标,随机ARR与立位ARR在原醛症诊断中具有相似的临床价值.本研究认为,在严格控制患者药物、体位、检测时间条件下,ARR切点400( pg·ml-1)/(ng·ml-1·h-1)是原醛症筛查试验比较合适的切点.     

呋塞米静脉注射对高血压患者血浆醛固酮肾素比值的影响

目的研究大剂量呋塞米快速静脉注射激发试验对不同人群血浆醛固酮／肾素比值（ARR）的影响。方法10例血压正常人、28例高血压病患者、11例经CT薄层扫描等检查明确为原发性醛固酮增多症的患者入选。入选者在清晨平卧位抽取空腹血后静脉快速注射呋塞米40mg，注射后10、30min各抽血一次查血浆醛固酮水平及肾素活性（PRA）并计算出ARR。结果正常血压组的ARR为18．18，静脉注射呋塞米后，PRA迅速上升（P〈0．01），ARR下降。高血压组患者的空腹血浆醛固酮为（149．01±14．69）ng／L，PRA为（3．45±0．74）ng／（ml·h），ARR为33．45±8．87，静脉注射呋塞米40mg后10、30min，患者的血浆醛固酮不断升高，分别为176．04，200．06ng／L，PRA明显升高，分别为7．11，5．68ng／（ml·h），ARR下降（均P〈0．05）。原发性醛固酮增多症患者组ARR为38．61±15．16，PRA为（3．16±0．4）ng／（ml·h），醛固酮为（165．75±18．56）ng／L，用呋塞米40mg静脉推注后其ARR达41．70±18．46。结论快速静脉注射呋塞米可使正常血压者及高血压病患者醛固酮和PRA快速明显增加，PRA以10min时最明显，醛固酮以30min最明显，ARR有所下降，而原发性醛固酮增多症患者的PRA上升不明显，ARR反而有所增加。     

The aldosterone to renin ratio in the evaluation of patients with incidentally detected adrenal masses

Incidentally discovered adrenal masses are diagnosed with increasing frequency, especially among patients with hypertension. Thus, a reliable screening test for primary hyperaldosteronism (PA) is essential to avoid unnecessary diagnostic procedures to this population. The aim of the present study is the evaluation of aldosterone to renin ratio (ARR), using plasma renin concentration, in the diagnostic algorithm of patients with adrenal incidentaloma. A total of 123 individuals were studied: 17 patients with proven PA (age 55.5 ± 1.4 years), 27 patients with nonfunctioning adrenal incidentaloma (age 60.3 ± 1.8 years, 14 hypertensives and 13 normotensives) and 79 control subjects (age 58.7 ± 1.4 years, 27 hypertensives and 52 normotensives). A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis disclosed that an ARR ≥32 combines a sensitivity of 100% with a specificity of 96.2% for the diagnosis of PA. No difference in ΑRR between hypertensive and normotensive individuals harbouring an adrenal incidentaloma and hypertensive and normotensive controls was found. Patients with adrenal incidentalomas with subtle glucocorticoid hypersecretion demonstrated similar ARR compared to patients with normal cortisol secretion. In conclusion, ARR is reliable for the exclusion of PA in patients with adrenal incidentalomas. Furthermore, subtle aldosterone hypersecretion, as indicated by increased ARR, in patients with adrenal incidentalomas is not associated with the presence of hypertension or subtle glucocorticoid hypersecretion.     

Optimal use and interpretation of the aldosterone renin ratio to detect aldosterone excess in hypertension

With the introduction of the aldosterone/renin ratio as a screening test, the detection rate of primary aldosteronism has increased considerably. Nevertheless, no consensus has so far been reached regarding the cutoff points, operating characteristics or indeed even the reference values for reporting the aldosterone/renin ratio using plasma active renin (ng/l or mU/l) measured by immunoradiometric assay. We review the characteristics of this ratio in normal individuals, essential hypertension and primary hyperaldosteronism in an attempt to reach an agreement regarding its optimum use and interpretation - both using the renin activity or concentration. It seems that the optimal cutoff for patients with primary aldosteronism is above 30 ng/dl per mug/l/h or 800 pmol/l per mug/l/h or 130 pmol/ng or 80 pmol/mU. We explore enhancing measures such as captopril loading or use with a plasma aldosterone cutoff as well as pitfalls with the test such as confounding medications or the need for confirmatory testing. For the latter, demonstration of autonomous aldosterone production via salt loading is widely used, but may not be most advantageous and may even be contraindicated in patients with severe hypertension. The renin stimulation test may be an alternative being safe, well tolerated, and cost effective.     

Effect of postural changes on aldosterone to plasma renin ratio in patients with suspected secondary hypertension

AimsTo study the influence of postural changes on aldosterone to renin ratio (ARR) in patients with suspected secondary hypertension and to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the recommended seated ARR compared to supine and upright ARR for primary aldosteronism screening.MethodsFifty-three hypertensive patients were prospectively hospitalized for secondary hypertension exploration (age: 51 ± 12, 66% males). After withdrawal of drugs interfering with renin angiotensin system, plasma aldosterone and direct renin concentration were measured in the morning, at bed after an overnight supine position, then out of bed after 1 hour of upright position and finally 2 hours later after 15 minutes of seating. Minimal renin value was set at 5 μUI/mL.ResultsReferring to ARR cut-off of 23 pg/μUI, the sensitivity of seated ARR was 57.1% and specificity was 92.3%. The negative and positive predictive values were 95.1% and 45.2% respectively. Compared to these results, a cut-off of 19 improved sensitivity to 85.7% with a specificity of 89.7%. Negative and positive predictive values were 98.3% and 41.1% respectively. Seated ARR mean value was lower than supine and upright ARR mean values, due to an overall increase in renin at seating compared to the supine position by factor 1.9 while aldosterone just slightly increased by factor 1.2. Seated ARR correlated to supine and upright ARR: correlation coefficients (r) 0.90 and 0.93 respectively (P < 0.001).ConclusionsCurrent recommended measurement of ARR in the seating position is fairly correlated to supine and upright ARR. A suggested cut-off value of 19 instead of 23 pg/μUI increased the discriminating power of this test.     

A biallelic gene polymorphism of CYP11B2 predicts increased aldosterone to renin ratio in selected hypertensive patients

Altered control of aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) gene expression may modulate aldosterone secretion, as suggested by a raised aldosterone to renin ratio (ARR) in some patients with essential hypertension. We compared the frequency of two linked CYP11B2 polymorphisms, one in the steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1) binding site and the other an intronic conversion (Int2) in relation to ARR in 141 hypertensive patients. Patients were divided into groups with either normal or high supine ARR using a cut-off threshold of 145 pmol/liter per ng/liter. Supine ARR was normal in 104 patients and raised in 37 patients. The two polymorphisms were in strong linkage disequilibrium (chi(2) = 123.8; P < 0.0001). The SF-1 T and Int2 C alleles were more prevalent among patients with high ARR (46% and 43%, respectively) than with normal ARR (22% and 17%; P < 0.01 and P < 0.005, respectively). Odds ratios for raised ARR in subjects with a homozygous SF-1 T and Int2 C haplotype were 6.1 (95% confidence interval, 1.6-22.5; P < 0.005) when compared with the contrasting haplotype. Linear modeling of individual postural changes in renin and aldosterone showed a maximal achievable aldosterone increase of 110 pmol/liter with no mutated haplotype and 500 pmol/liter with two mutated haplotypes. These findings support the view of a molecular basis regulating aldosterone production.     

达格列净对2型糖尿病合并高血压患者醛固酮/肾素浓度比值的影响

目的:探讨达格列净对2型糖尿病（T2DM）合并高血压患者醛固酮/肾素浓度比值（ARR）的影响。方法:选取2019年9月至2020年12月就诊于北京怀柔医院内分泌科的T2DM合并高血压患者。测量并记录患者治疗前体重、空腹血糖（FPG）、糖化血红蛋白（HbA 1c）、尿酸、血浆肾素浓度、醛固酮水平等指标,并计算...     

Elevated platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in patients with polymyositis/dermatomyositis: a retrospective study

Clinical Rheumatology - This study aimed to examine the diagnostic and prognostic value of the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in patients with...     

Plasma and urine aldosterone to plasma renin activity ratio in the diagnosis of primary aldosteronism

OBJECTIVE: To establish the best cut-off value of the aldosterone (ALD)/plasma renin activity (PRA) ratio when screening patients for primary aldosteronism. One hundred and six patients with primary aldosteronism and 100 essential hypertensive patients were investigated in rigorous standardized conditions. METHODS: The ALD/PRA cut-off values were calculated from both the plasma and urine ALD/PRA ratio and analyzed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. In patients with PRA below 0.2 ng/ml/h [our radioimmunoassay detection limit], values were calculated both with PRA levels set at 0.2 ng/ml/h ('adjusted') and with PRA levels detected ('unadjusted') in the assay. RESULTS: ROC analysis on the ALD/PRA ratio indicated that the best performance was obtained when the plasma ALD (ng/dl)/PRA ratio was used in comparison with that observed in the urine ALD (microg/day)/PRA ratio. In patients with primary aldosteronism, as a whole group, the cut-off value of 69 corresponded to the best compromise value between sensitivity (96%) and specificity (85%), with and without PRA adjustment. In patients with aldosterone-producing adenoma, the cut-off to obtain 100% sensitivity with high specificity (85%) proved to be 69, with and without PRA adjustment. In patients with bilateral adrenal hyperplasia, both with and without PRA adjustment, the best compromise between sensitivity (94%) and specificity (86%) was a cut-off value of 71. CONCLUSION: The best cut-off to identify patients with primary aldosteronism, corresponding to 69, was obtained by using the plasma ALD/PRA ratio. Adjustment of PRA to 0.2 ng/ml/h does not interfere with calculation of the plasma ALD/PRA ratio cut-off.     

螺内酯的降血压作用与血浆醛固酮肾素比值的关系探讨

目的:研究在治疗顽固性高血压患者中醛固酮拮抗剂螺内酯的降压疗效与血浆醛固酮/肾素比值(ARR)的关系,及对原发性醛固酮增多症(原醛)的诊断及鉴别诊断价值。方法:10例血压正常人与55例顽固性高血压患者入选,在清晨平卧时抽取空腹血后静脉快速注射速尿40mg,注射后10min,30min,各抽血1次查血浆醛固酮(ALD)及肾素(PRA)水平,并计算出ARR。后患者口服非洛地平缓释片10mgqd2周,效果不理想加服贝那普利10mgqd2周,如效果仍不理想,再加上螺内酯20mgbid4周,观察血压下降的程度与ARR的关系。结果:正常血压组的ARR为8.18,静脉注射速尿后,PRA迅速上升,P0.01,而ALD上升不明显,致ARR下降。在按治疗反应分组观察中发现,加螺内酯组的空腹ARR较不加螺内酯组为高(15.1±2.16:7.7±2.1),但2组比较无明显差异,P0.05。在应用速尿静脉注射后2组ARR的差别进一步增大,10min时为(25.2±5.23:5.5±1.13),30min时为(27.3±6.46:6.53±1.8),差异有统计学意义,P0.01。结论:正常人和原发性高血压患者静脉注射速尿可快速激发PRA和ALD的增加,PRA以10min时最为明显,ALD以30min为明显,ARR有所下降。顽固性高血压患者经一般降压治疗疗效不佳而加用醛固酮拮抗剂螺内酯后血压下降明显,应考虑有原醛可能,静脉注射速尿激发试验测定ARR对原醛的诊断有一定的帮助。     

Effects of tofogliflozin on adrenocorticotropic hormone,renin and aldosterone,and cortisol levels in elderly patients with diabetes mellitus: A retrospective study of a patient cohort

Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol reportedly play a role in glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM); however, the underlying mechanism remains controversial. We retrospectively investigated the effect of tofogliflozin on serum ACTH and cortisol levels in elderly patients with T2DM.Patients received 20 mg tofogliflozin daily for 3 months. Serum ACTH and cortisol levels were measured at baseline, as well as after 1 month and 3 months of tofogliflozin therapy.Serum ACTH levels were significantly reduced 3 months after tofogliflozin treatment (P < .01). Additionally, serum cortisol levels were reduced 3 months after tofogliflozin treatment, demonstrating borderline significance (P = .05). The higher body mass index (BMI; ≥25 kg/m²) group showed higher ACTH and cortisol levels than the lower BMI (<25 kg/m²) group, with borderline significance (P = .05). Renin levels were significantly increased 1 month after treatment (P < .05), maintaining serum aldosterone levels in parallel with the extracellular fluid.Our findings suggested that tofogliflozin decreased both serum ACTH and cortisol levels, with higher levels observed in the high BMI group. Tofogliflozin increased serum renin levels while maintaining serum aldosterone and extracellular fluid levels. Collectively, tofogliflozin could affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal pathway in patients with T2DM, especially in the low BMI group.     

The value of ultrasound in diagnosing extracranial large-vessel vasculitis compared to FDG-PET/CT: A retrospective study

Large-vessel vasculitis (LVV) is a group of diseases mainly comprised of giant-cell arteritis (GCA), Takayasu arteritis, and a series of rare diseases like Behçet’s disease, IgG4-related disease, infectious aortitis, and other unfrequent entities. Besides clinical and laboratory features, Doppler sonography (DS) can assist in establishing the diagnosis. Its diagnostic sensitivity has been evaluated in various studies, most of them, however, in temporal arteritis (TA) respectively in LVV with involvement of the temporal artery. Little is known in extracranial LVV. We retrospectively evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of DS in 30 patients with extracranial, non-temporal LVV using the highly sensitive PET/CT as method of reference in comparison to 20 controls who were found to have no LVV. We investigated ten arterial sites and documented the presence of the sonographic halo sign. Sensitivities of DS for LVV were highest in the subclavian and axillary arteries (71.4%/72.2%) and low in the abdominal aorta (26.1%) and the common femoral artery (16.7%). DS detected 24 out of 30 cases of LVV (overall sensitivity 80.0%). The LVV cases where DS was completely negative did not significantly differ in leukocyte count, C-reactive protein, or erythrocyte sedimentation rate from LVV cases with positive DS. DS is a potent method in diagnosing extracranial LVV especially in the axillary and the subclavian arteries. Aortic, intraabdominal, and lower extremity artery manifestations, however, are often missed by DS. A second imaging modality (e.g., PET/CT) is therefore required.     

原发性醛固酮增多症筛查中血浆醛固酮/肾素活性比值的影响因素

血浆醛固酮水平/肾索活性比值(ARR)是筛查原发性醛固酮增多症的实用指标.由于影响肾素和醛同酮分泌的因素众多,ARR切点值变异范围较大,至今仍然是一个缺乏标准化的指标.本文综述这些因素,旨在临床上提高ARR的诊断效力.