Abstract
BackgroundIn recent years, evidence that aldosteronism is a risk factor for metabolic disorders has increased. This study was designed to investigate the role of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and hypokalemia in primary aldosteronism (PA).MethodsA total of 222 patients diagnosed with PA and 222 non-PA patients were included in our study. Demographic data, medical histories, clinical evaluations, complete blood counts, serum biochemical analyses, aldosterone and potassium levels were obtained. Data are presented as the means ± standard deviation (SD). To compare the parameters between cases and controls, Student’s t-tests or Mann-Whitney U tests were used for continuous variables, and χ2 tests were used for categorical variables. Pearson correlation analysis was used to define relationships between pairs of parameters. A two-sided P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to assess the independent effects of potassium and other metabolic variables on NAFLD in PA patients.ResultsThe diagnosis of NAFLD was more common in PA patients (n=222, 35.1%) than in non-PA subjects (29.7%). PA patients with and without NAFLD had similar metabolic imbalance characteristics. In PA patients with hypokalemia, relatively higher prevalences of NAFLD (44% vs. 27%, P < 0.05) and diabetes mellitus (19.8% vs. 9.9%, P < 0.05) were observed. Hypokalemic PA patients had a worse metabolic status than PA patients without hypokalemia, including higher body mass index (BMI) (25.4 ± 3.4 vs. 24.1 ± 3.9 kg/m2, P < 0.05), more severe dyslipidemia as well as insulin resistance, higher serum uric acid levels (354 ± 95 vs. 319 ± 87 μmol/L, P < 0.01) and aggravated inflammation.ConclusionThe prevalence of NAFLD was higher in PA patients than in non-PA patients, although the patterns of obesity, dyslipidemia and insulin resistance were similar. Hypokalemic PA patients had a worse metabolic status than normokalemic PA patients. This study provides new insights that can inform further mechanistic studies about metabolic imbalance in patients with aldosteronism.
Highlights
Primary hyperaldosteronism (PA), which was first described by Jerome Conn in the 1950s, is characterized by inappropriate endogenous production of the mineralocorticoid aldosterone by one or both adrenal glands
The diagnosis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was more common in PA patients (n=222, 35.1%) than in non-PA subjects (29.7%)
The prevalence of NAFLD was higher in PA patients than in non-PA patients, the patterns of obesity, dyslipidemia and insulin resistance were similar
Summary
Primary hyperaldosteronism (PA), which was first described by Jerome Conn in the 1950s, is characterized by inappropriate endogenous production of the mineralocorticoid aldosterone by one or both adrenal glands. Recent studies have shown that excess aldosterone is associated with metabolic disorders, such as diabetes [1, 2]. The prevalences of metabolic diseases, including obesity, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and diabetes, have increased rapidly in recent years [6,7,8]. NAFLD is defined as a clinicopathological syndrome characterized by lipid accumulation in hepatocytes and is commonly accompanied by obesity, dyslipidemia, diabetes, and cardiac and cerebral vascular diseases, accounting for half of chronic liver disease in China [6, 9]. Evidence that aldosteronism is a risk factor for metabolic disorders has increased. This study was designed to investigate the role of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and hypokalemia in primary aldosteronism (PA)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
