Abstract
BackgroundPlasma renin activity (PRA) is generally increased in patients with pheochromocytoma (PCC) due to low circulating plasma volume and activation of β-1 adrenergic receptor signaling. However, there has been no study on the aldosterone renin ratio (ARR) in patients with PCC. To elucidate the issue, this study aimed to determine the PRA, plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC), and ARR in patients with PCC and compare them with those in patients with subclinical Cushing’s syndrome (SCS) and non-functioning adrenal adenoma (NFA).MethodsIn this retrospective single-center, cross-sectional study, 67 consecutive patients with adrenal tumors (PCC (n = 18), SCS (n = 18), and NFA (n = 31)) diagnosed at Kobe University Hospital between 2008 and 2014 were enrolled.ResultsPRA was significantly higher in patients with PCC than in those with SCS and NFA (2.1 (1.3 ~ 2.8) vs. 0.7 (0.5 ~ 1.8) and 0.9 (0.6 ~ 1.4) ng/mL/h; p = 0.018 and p = 0.025). Although PACs were comparable among the three groups, ARR was significantly lower in patients with PCC than in those with SCS and NFA (70.5 (45.5 ~ 79.5) vs. 156.0 (92.9 ~ 194.5) and 114.9 (90.1 ~ 153.4); p = 0.001 and p < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that, in differentiating PCC from NFA, PRA > 1.55 ng/mL/h showed a sensitivity of 70.0% and specificity of 80.6%. Interestingly, ARR < 95.4 showed a sensitivity of 83.3% and specificity of 86.7%, which were higher than those in PRA.ConclusionsARR decreased in patients with PCC, which was a more sensitive marker than PRA. Further study is necessary to understand the usefulness of this convenient marker in the detection of PCC.Trial registrationThis study was not registered because of the retrospective analysis.
Highlights
Plasma renin activity (PRA) is generally increased in patients with pheochromocytoma (PCC) due to low circulating plasma volume and activation of β-1 adrenergic receptor signaling
This study aimed to determine the difference in plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC), PRA, and aldosterone renin ratio (ARR) between patients with PCC and those with subclinical Cushing’s syndrome (SCS) or nonfunctioning adrenal adenoma (NFA)
The diagnosis of PCC was based on the Endocrine Society Guideline [11], which focused on increased urinary metanephrine (uMN) or uNMN levels, tumor demonstration by imaging test, and positive 123I- metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scintigraphy
Summary
Plasma renin activity (PRA) is generally increased in patients with pheochromocytoma (PCC) due to low circulating plasma volume and activation of β-1 adrenergic receptor signaling. There has been no study on the aldosterone renin ratio (ARR) in patients with PCC. This study aimed to determine the PRA, plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC), and ARR in patients with PCC and compare them with those in patients with subclinical Cushing’s syndrome (SCS) and non-functioning adrenal adenoma (NFA). Pheochromocytoma (PCC) is a tumor arising from adrenomedullary chromaffin cells that commonly secret catecholamines (CAs), namely, adrenaline (Ad), noradrenaline (NA), and dopamine (DA). False-positive results for uMN or uNMN make it difficult to exclude PCC. In general practice, simple screening markers are needed to detect PCC from patients with hypertension
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