Management Of Primary Aldosteronism Research Articles

Stress the standardized diagnosis and management of primary aldosteronism

原发性醛固酮增多症（PA）是常见的继发性高血压，由于不少临床医师未能想到对最初诊断的高血压患者进行PA筛查，以至有些患者发展到不可逆转的4~5期慢性肾脏疾病时才开始进行相关检测；PA患者与年龄、性别和血压水平相匹配的原发性高血压患者相比，其心、脑、肾血管事件的发生率和致死率高2~3倍；而临床实践指南可能也因为过于复杂而未能有效地促使更多的临床医师去考虑筛查PA。故应简化指南的诊断流程，特别是要简化针对药物使用的要求以及仅对重点推荐的进行PA筛查的患者类型。建议所有高血压患者均应进行至少一次PA的相关试验检查，选择简化、及时、性价比高、对患者损伤小的筛查和诊断方法，明确诊断后应遵从指南推荐，严格执法，进行正确规范化治疗。.

Evaluation and Management of Primary Hyperaldosteronism.

Primary hyperaldosteronism is an important and increasingly prevalent cause of hypertension that is characterized by unregulated aldosterone excess. More than 90% of primary hyperaldosteronism cases are attributable to either idiopathic adrenal hyperplasia or aldosterone-producing adenomas. The approach to the diagnosis of primary hyperaldosteronism should be step-wise, starting with screening of at-risk populations, confirmatory testing for positively screened patients, and subtype classification in order to direct surgical or medical management. Based on current guidelines, subtype classification of primary hyperaldosteronism should be determined with both imaging and adrenal vein sampling (AVS), reserving deferment of AVS for a selective subset of patients.

The aldosterone to renin ratio in the diagnosis of primary aldosteronism: Promises and challenges.

The complexity of evaluating patients for secondary treatable causes of hypertension is underappreciated. Primary aldosteronism (PA) is the most prevalent cause of secondary hypertension (3%-32% of hypertensive patients). The recent endocrine society clinical practice guideline (ESCPG), "The Management of Primary Aldosteronism: Case Detection, Diagnosis, and Treatment", differs from the previous version in the explicit recognition of PA as a major public health issue. Despite this, PA is underdiagnosed. The guidelines call on physicians to substantially ramp up the screening of hypertensive patients at risk of PA. Further, it recommends the plasma aldosterone to renin ratio (ARR), as the test of choice for screening for PA. However, the ARR is a highly variable test with reported diagnostic sensitivities and specificities ranging from 66% to 100% and 61% to 100%, respectively. Variability of the ARR can be attributed to the high degree of within-subject variation, differences in sampling protocols, laboratory assays, reporting units, the effect of medications and the population characteristics used to establish the decision thresholds. These factors render the possibility of false positive and false negative results-which have the potential to adversely impact patients. The limitations and caveats to the use of the ARR necessitate an effective clinic-laboratory interface, with specialist physician and clinical scientist collaboration for ARR result interpretation. Improvement in the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the ARR is predicated on harmonisation of pretesting patient preparation criteria, knowledge of the analytical methods used to derive the ratio and the method-specific threshold for PA.

Roentgenoendovascular destruction of adrenal glands in the management of primary aldosteronism

Background. In the XXI century, interventional radiology is developing rapidly in the surgical treatment for endocrine pathology of adrenal glands. Until the introduction of aldosterone to renin ratio calculation as a screening test by K. Hiramatsu in 1981, primary aldosteronism was thought to be a rare pathology. Further study of the disease obtained new data on its prevalence – from 5 to 10 % among patients with hypertension and more than 20 % of patients with refractory hypertension. In Ukraine, the prevalence of primary aldosteronism among patients with refractory arterial hypertension is 1.2 %. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of roentgenoendovascular destruction of adrenal glands (REDAG) in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA). Materials and methods. During the period from 2014 to July2018, a total of 132 patients with adrenal pathology were examined and treated at the Clinic of Hospital Surgery of ZSMU. Operative treatment for primary aldosteronism was performed in 38 patients, including 15 patients who underwent REDAG. There were 10 (66.7 %) women and 5 (33.3 %) men. The average age was 49.4 ± 14.9 years. According to CT (MRT), anatomy of adrenal neoplasms had the following localization: left-sided – in 11 (73.3 %) patients, right-sided – in 1 (6.7 %), bilateral – in 3 (20 %). The mean volume of adrenal neoplasms was 9.0 (6.3–10.0) mm. Diagnostics was performed according to the clinical practical recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of PA (Clinical Practical Guideline – The Management of Primary Aldosteronism, 2016). Roentgenoendovascular surgery in patients with PA included destruction of the right adrenal gland in 3 (20 %) cases, of the left – in 12 (80 %). The results of the operative treatment were evaluated according to the standard criteria and clinical biochemical criteria of PASO (Primary Aldosteronism Surgical Outcomes) including the echocardiographic data. Results. The duration of the REDAG was 36.6 ± 6 minutes. Conversions, postoperative complications, lethal outcomes were avoided. The length of hospital stay was 9 (7–12) days. Comparative analysis of surgical treatment results showed a statistically significant decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, aldosterone levels (P < 0.05). The control CT performed after treatment identified adrenal adenomas in the contralateral glands in 2 (13.3 %) patients. However, the follow-up clinical and laboratory diagnostics did not reveal its hormonal activity. According to PASO criteria, the complete biochemical effect was achieved in 73.3 %, complete clinical - in 66.7 %, partial biochemical effect – in 20 %, partial clinical effect – in 26.6 % of patients, failure of biochemical and clinical effects – in 6.7 %. Conclusions. Interventional methods of surgical treatment for adrenal pathology represent a complete alternative to endoscopic methods of surgical treatment in case i f it is clinically indicated. REDAG for primary aldosteronism demonstrates the statistically significant efficacy of symptomatic arterial hypertension treatment: complete biochemical effect in 73.3 %, complete clinical – 66.7%, partial biochemical effect – 20 %, partial clinical effect – 26.6 % of patients.

Clinical presentation and management of primary aldosteronism in late childhood and adolescence: Experience in an outpatient hypertension clinic

Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology ISSN 1470-3947 (print) | ISSN 1479-6848 (online)

The management of primary aldosteronism

The management of primary aldosteronism

SAT-064 Validation of Furosemide Upright Test in Primary Aldosteronism Diagnosis Using Direct Renin Assay

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is the most common cause of endocrine hypertension. The 2016 Endocrine Society’s Guideline for PA management recommend that patients with a positive screening undergo one or more confirmatory tests to definitively confirm or exclude the diagnosis. Confirmatory testing procedures include oral sodium loading, saline infusion test (SIT), fludrocortisone suppression, captopril test (CT) and furosemide upright test (FUT). The FUT, mainly proposed by the Japan Endocrine Society, does not have limitation in patients with severe uncontrolled hypertension and heart failure. A positive FUT is defined as a plasma renin activity (PRA) <2 ng/mL/h after 2h, but it has not been standardized using a direct renin assay. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the FUT positive rate in a Brazilian cohort of PA patients and to establish a cut-off level to confirm PA diagnosis using direct renin concentration (DRC). We performed the FUT in 45 consecutive patients (25 males; median age 50 yrs, from 31 to 67 yrs) with PA diagnosis confirmed by biochemical cure after unilateral adrenalectomy or by adrenal venous sampling. Patients received furosemide 40 mg iv and stayed in upright position for 2h, starting at 8-9.30 AM. Blood samples for DRC, aldosterone, and potassium were drawn at time zero and after 2h. Aldosterone and DRC were measured by a chemiluminescent immunoassay (LIAISON®). Median A/DRC ratio was 10.3 (range, 2.54 to 66.4). Hypokalemia was evidenced in 27 out of 45 (60%) patients. Median DRC before and after 2h FUT was 2.8 uUI/mL (1.2 to 8.3) and 3.0 uUI/mL (0.5 to 19), respectively. Using the conversion factor of 12 to calculate PRA, FUT was positive (DRC/12= PRA <2 ng/mL/h) in all patients. Based on the highest renin level after FUT, the most suitable cut-off of direct renin concentration to confirm PA diagnosis was 20 uUL/mL. Additionally, potassium levels did not significantly change after FUT. Among these 45 PA patients, 39 performed an additional confirmatory test (recumbent SIT in 24 and CT in 15 patients). The positive rate for SIT was 83% using an aldosterone cut-off of 10 ng/dL and 100% using a cut-off of 6.8 ng/dL. CT and FUT were positive in all PA patients. In conclusion, FUT was a safe and reliable test for PA confirmation. In addition, we suggest a renin cut-off <20 uUI/mL after FTU to confirm PA diagnosis. Support: CNPq (403256/2016-0) to MQA

Influence of Adrenal Venous Sampling on Management in Patients with Primary Aldosteronism Independent of Lateralization on Cross-Sectional Imaging

Patients with primary aldosteronism undergo imaging of the adrenal glands after confirmation of the disease. Adrenal venous sampling (AVS) is a useful adjunct to imaging, and advocates believe that AVS should be performed before surgical management. Others argue that patients with unilateral lesions on imaging do not require AVS. Although AVS accuracy has been established, few studies have evaluated how AVS alters management. Our study aimed to determine how AVS affected management of these patients. Patient data were collected retrospectively from the electronic medical records at a single institution. Patients aged 18 years or older who underwent AVS with successful adrenal vein cannulation from 2007 to 2016 were included. The laterality of AVS was compared with laterality of preprocedural imaging for each patient. The management plan before AVS was determined by laterality on preprocedural imaging. The primary outcomes were management of primary aldosteronism, change in management compared with the plan before AVS, and antihypertensive medication use after therapy. Seventy-four patients had successful adrenal venous cannulation. Thirty-three (44.6%) patients had AVS lateralization that was concordant with preprocedural imaging. Forty-one (55.4%) patients had AVS lateralization that was non-concordant with preprocedural imaging. There was a change in management in 29 (39.2%) patients. Adrenal venous sampling can delineate the source of aldosterone hypersecretion, and often this is not concordant with cross-sectional imaging. We found that many patients avoided a potentially non-curative operation due to AVS. Adrenal venous sampling frequently alters the management of aldosteronomas and should be highly considered in patients before surgical intervention.

A simple and efficient automated cGMP-compliant radiosynthesis of [11 C]metomidate using solid phase extraction cartridge purification.

[11 C]metomidate ([11 C]MTO) is a radiotracer widely used to detect disorders of adrenocortical origin by positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. [11 C]MTO PET/computed tomography (PET/CT) is considered a sensitive and specific noninvasive alternative to adrenal vein sampling (AVS) in the management of primary hyperaldosteronism (PHA). Herein, we report a reliable automated procedure for the routine manufacturing of [11 C]MTO in current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) conditions on the commercial Synthra MeIPlus Loop Vessel synthesizer. The method is based on a combination of the captive-solvent 11 C-methylation of the carboxylate salt 1b of the MTO precursor 1a followed by solid phase extraction (SPE) cartridge purification methodology, which substitutes HPLC purification of the crude reaction mixture. Starting from 45GBq [11 C]CO2 at the end of bombardment (EOB), 3GBq of pure [11 C]MTO was produced in 18minutes with 12% decay corrected radiochemical yield (RCY) at the end of synthesis (EOS) and with the modest molar activity of 13GBq/μmol at the time of application. Each dose produced met all established quality control (QC) criteria. The method can easily be implemented into other commercial automated radiosynthesizers for manufacturing carbon-11 labeled radiotracers.

Assessing the quality of guidelines for primary aldosteronism: which guidelines are worth applying in diverse settings?

To review the validity and applicability of clinical guidelines on the management of primary aldosteronism and to list their discrepancies to allow health-care providers and guideline developers to make informed decisions. Primary aldosteronism management guidelines, including specialist, subgroup, general guidelines written in English, were obtained from electronic databases. Appraisers independently extracted the data, and used the Appraisal Guidelines Research and Evaluation II (AGREE-II) tool and the Institute of Medicine (IOM) criteria to independently evaluate the methodological quality of the guidelines. Then, the appraisers used the Guideline Implementability Appraisal (GLIA) tool to assess the implementation of the guidelines that complied with AGREE-II and IOM. In addition, we further compared the discrepancies in the primary aldosteronism management recommendations. We have identified 12 guidelines published between 2006 and 2016. Only the Endocrine Society and the Canadian Hypertension Education Program guidelines of them were of good methodological quality according the AGREE-II and IOM instrument, but with still much room for improvement. Neither of these two was rated as easily implementable according to the GLIA tool. Discrepant recommendations were identified at all management steps (screening, confirmation, classification, treatment and follow-up). The guidelines quality was mostly poor, and the higher quality guidelines also needed improvement prior to their implementation. Meanwhile, significant differences existed in the recommendation for the same clinical problem. Therefore, future guideline development should be performed in strict accordance with the AGREE-II, IOM and GLIA criteria to improve the diagnosis and treatment of primary aldosteronism.

Impact of immunohistochemistry on the diagnosis and management of primary aldosteronism: An important tool for improved patient follow-up.

Primary aldosteronism is a common cause of secondary hypertension. Primary aldosteronism is caused by an aldosterone-producing adenoma or bilateral hyperplasia that in some cases is asymmetrical with one adrenal dominating aldosterone secretion. Most patients with aldosterone-producing adenoma are biochemically cured by unilateral adrenalectomy, but patients with bilateral hyperplasia have a significant risk of residual or recurrent disease. Here, immunohistochemistry of CYP11B1 and B2 was used to investigate whether these markers could aid in the diagnostic workup of primary aldosteronism patients. A total of 39 patients with primary aldosteronism who underwent unilateral adrenalectomy for a presumed adenoma during 2013-2016 were included. Immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibodies identifying the enzymes CYP11B1 and B2 was part of routine histopathological workup in 6 cases; in 33 cases, it was applied retrospectively. The hyperplasia diagnosis was suggested when there was no dominating nodule but immunoreactivity for CYP11B2 was seen in several nodules, which were also seen on routine sections. To distinguish between adenoma and hyperplasia, a ratio between the largest and second largest CYP11B2-positive nodules was calculated. In all, 22 patients had an aldosterone-producing adenoma, while 13 patients were judged to have hyperplasia. In four cases, a final diagnosis could not be established, thus these were judged equivocal. Among the 33 cases investigated retrospectively, the primary histopathological diagnosis was altered from hyperplasia to aldosterone-producing adenoma in 9 cases (27%) after immunohistochemistry, and the immunohistochemically rectified adenoma group displayed improved clinical cure rates compared to the routine H&E-diagnosed cohort. Moreover, the B2 ratio was significantly higher in adenoma than in hyperplasia and equivocal cases. Immunohistochemistry detecting CYP11B1 and B2 expression is of great help in establishing a final histopathological diagnosis in patients with primary aldosteronism. This procedure should be part of the histopathological routine in all operated primary aldosteronism patients.

Clinical Presentation, Diagnosis, and Management of Primary Aldosteronism and Pheochromocytoma

Clinical Presentation, Diagnosis, and Management of Primary Aldosteronism and Pheochromocytoma

Using microwave thermal ablation to develop a subtotal, cortical-sparing approach to the management of primary aldosteronism

Objective: To investigate the feasibility and efficacy of localized, subtotal, cortical-sparing microwave thermal ablation (MTA) as a potential curative management for primary aldosteronism. The study investigated with equal importance the selected ablation of small volumes of adrenal cortex while sparing adjacent cortex.Method: An in-vivo study was carried out in swine (n = 8) where MTA was applied under direct visualization, to the adrenal glands at 45 W or 70 W for 60 s, using a lateral, side-firing probe and a non-penetrative approach. Animals were survived for 48 h post-procedurally. Animals were investigated for markers of histological, immunohistochemical and biochemical evidence of adrenal function and adrenal damage by assessing samples drawn intra-operatively and at the time of euthanasia.Results: Selected MTA (70 W for 60 s) successfully ablated small adrenocortical volumes (∼0.8 cm3) characterized by coagulative necrosis and abnormal expression of functional markers (CYP11B1 and CYP17). Non-ablated, adjacent cortex was not affected and preserved normal expression of functional markers, without increased expression of markers of heat damage (HSP-70 and HMGB-1). Limited adrenal medullary damage was demonstrated histologically, clinically and biochemically.Conclusion: MTA offers potential as an efficient methodology for delivering targeted subtotal cortical-sparing adrenal ablation. Image-guided targeted MTA may also represent a safe future modality for curative management of PA, in the setting of both unilateral and bilateral disease.

Treatment of Primary Aldosteronism Reduces the Probability of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

BackgroundAldosterone excess is hypothesized to worsen obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) symptoms by promoting peripharyngeal edema. However, the extent to which primary aldosteronism (PA), hypertension, and body mass index (BMI) influence OSA pathogenesis remains unclear. MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study of PA patients from our endocrine database to retrospectively evaluate OSA probability before and after adrenalectomy or medical management of PA. A control group of patients undergoing adrenalectomy for nonfunctioning benign adrenal masses was also evaluated. We categorized patients as high or low OSA probability after evaluation with the Berlin Questionnaire, a validated 10-question survey that explores sleep, fatigue, hypertension, and BMI. ResultsWe interviewed 91 patients (83 PA patients and eight control patients). Median follow-up time was 2.6 y. The proportion of high OSA probability in all PA patients decreased from 64% to 35% after treatment for PA (mean Berlin score 1.64 versus 1.35, P < 0.001). This decline correlated with improvements in hypertension (P < 0.001) and fatigue symptoms (P = 0.03). Both surgical (n = 48; 1.69 versus 1.33, P < 0.001) and medical (n = 35; 1.57 versus 1.37, P = 0.03) treatment groups demonstrated reduced OSA probability. BMI remained unchanged after PA treatment (29.1 versus 28.6, P = nonsignificant), and the impact of treatment on OSA probability was independent of BMI. The control surgical group showed no change in OSA probability after adrenalectomy (1.25 versus 1.25, P = nonsignificant). ConclusionsBoth surgical and medical treatments of PA reduce sleep apnea probability independent of BMI and are associated with improvements in hypertension and fatigue. Improved screening for PA could reduce OSA burden.

Ендоскопічна хірургія пухлин надниркових залоз при первинному гіперальдостеронізмі

Мета. Оцінити ефективність хірургічного лікування пацієнтів з первинним гіперальдостеронізмом (ПГА).&#x0D; Матеріали і методи. За період з 2014 по лютий 2018 р. в клініці госпітальної хірургії Запорізького державного медичного університету у 46 пацієнтів діагностували ПГА, оперативне лікування проведено 23 пацієнтам, серед них 15 (65%) жінок і 8 (35%) чоловіків. Середній вік пацієнтів становив (52,3 ± 9,5) року. За даними комп’ютерної (КТ) та магнітно-резонансної ( МРТ) томографії правобічна локалізація аденом надниркових залоз встановлена у 10 (43,5%) пацієнтів, лівобічна - у 7 (30,4%), двобічна - у 6 (26,1%). Розмір об’ємних утворень надниркових залоз становив (18,3 ± 6,7) мм. Діагностику проводили згідно з Клінічними практичними рекомендаціями з діагностики та лікування первинного гіперальдостеронізму (Clinical Practical Guideline - The Management of Primary Aldosteronism; 2008, 2016). Оперативне лікування проводили з використанням ендоскопічних методів. Лапароскопічну адреналектомію виконали 19 (82,6%) пацієнтам, лапароскопічну резекцію надниркової залози - 4 (17,4%). Результати оперативного лікування оцінювали згідно зі стандартними та клініко-біохімічними критеріями PASO (Primary Aldosteronism Surgical Outcomes).&#x0D; Результати. Тривалість операцій становила в середньому 150 (120 - 200) хв, строки лікування пацієнтів у стаціонарі - (9 ± 2,1) доби. До конверсій не вдавалися, післяопераційних ускладнень не було. Ніхто з пацієнтів не помер. Порівняльний аналіз результатів оперативного лікування показав статистично достовірне зниження показників систолічного артеріального тиску (САТ), діастолічного артеріального тиску (ДАТ), концентрації альдостерону та підвищення рівня калію (p &lt; 0,05). Кореляційний аналіз не виявив статистично достовірного зв’язку між концентрацією альдостерону та масою міокарда лівого шлуночка (ММЛШ), товщиною міжшлуночкової перегородки (ТМШП), товщиною задньої стінки лівого шлуночка (ТЗСЛШ) у пацієнтів до та після оперативного лікування. Клінічні результати хірургічного лікування пацієнтів з ПГА, оцінені за критеріями PASO та стандартними критеріями, практично схожі: повне одужання констатовано у 39,2 та 43,5% пацієнтів, часткове - у 60,8 та 56,5% пацієнтів відповідно; біохімічні результати, оцінені аналогічно, суттєво різнилися: повне одужання - 91,3 та 43,5%, часткове - 8,7 та 56,5% відповідно.&#x0D; Висновки. В хірургічному лікуванні пацієнтів з аденомами надниркових залоз, що супроводжуються ПГА, слід надавати перевагу лапароскопічним методам (адреналектомія, резекція). Ефективність мініінвазивних методів хірургічного лікування ПГА статистично достовірна. Клініко-біохімічні критерії PASO в оцінці результатів хірургічного лікування пацієнтів з ПГА мають перевагу перед стандартними, оскільки є комплексними. Після хірургічного лікування пацієнтів з ПГА повне біохімічне одужання настає у 91,3% пацієнтів, повне клінічне - у 39,2%, часткове біохімічне - у 8,7%, часткове клінічне - у 60,8% пацієнтів.

Primary Aldosteronism: Practical Approach to Diagnosis and Management.

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is the most common form of secondary hypertension. In many cases, somatic mutations in ion channels and pumps within adrenal cells initiate the pathogenesis of PA, and this mechanism might explain why PA is so common and suggests that milder and evolving forms of PA must exist. Compared with primary hypertension, PA causes more end-organ damage and is associated with excess cardiovascular morbidity, including heart failure, stroke, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and atrial fibrillation. Screening is simple and readily available, and targeted therapy improves blood pressure control and mitigates cardiovascular morbidity. Despite these imperatives, screening rates for PA are low, and mineralocorticoid-receptor antagonists are underused for hypertension treatment. After the evidence for the prevalence of PA and its associated cardiovascular morbidity is summarized, a practical approach to PA screening, referral, and management is described. All physicians who treat hypertension should routinely screen appropriate patients for PA.

MANAGEMENT OF ENDOCRINE DISEASE: Diagnosis and management of primary aldosteronism: the Endocrine Society guideline 2016 revisited.

The syndrome of primary aldosteronism (PA) is characterized by hypertension with excessive, autonomous aldosterone production and is usually caused by either a unilateral aldosterone-producing adenoma or bilateral adrenal hyperplasia. The diagnostic workup of PA is a sequence of three phases comprising screening tests, confirmatory tests and the differentiation of unilateral from bilateral forms. The latter step is necessary to determine the optimal treatment approach of unilateral laparoscopic adrenalectomy (for patients with unilateral PA) or medical treatment with a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (for patients with bilateral PA). Since the publication of the revised Endocrine Society guideline 2016, a number of key studies have been published. They challenge the recommendations of the guideline in some areas and confirm current practice in others. Herein, we present the recent developments and current approaches to the medical management of PA.

The forgotten cause of hypertension: A case report and literature review of the prevalence, diagnosis and management of primary aldosteronism

In recent years, primary aldosteronism (PA) has been found to have a much higher prevalence than previously thought, especially among those with resistant hypertension. As hypertension has become a prominent public health issue affecting billions of people, the number of patients potentially affected by PA is a significant. Current medical and surgical therapies for PA are highly effective, and as untreated PA can lead to significant cardiovascular morbidity and mortality this stresses the importance of astute diagnosis and management on part of physicians. We present a case of a patient presenting with cardiovascular complications of untreated primary aldosteronism and review recent guidelines regarding screening, diagnosis, and management.

Progress in the Management of Primary Aldosteronism.

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is now considered as one of leading causes of secondary hypertension, accounting for 5–10% of all hypertensive patients and more strikingly 20% of those with resistant hypertension. Importantly, those with the unilateral disease could be surgically cured when diagnosed appropriately. On the other hand, only a very limited portion of those suspected to have PA has been screened, diagnosed, or treated to date. With current advancement in medical technologies and genetic research, expanding knowledge of PA has been accumulated and recent achievements have also been documented in the care of those with PA. This review is aimed to have focused description on updated topics of the following; importance of PA screening both in the general and specialized settings and careful interpretation of screening data, recent achievements in hormone assays and sampling methods and their clinical relevance, and expanding knowledge on PA genetics. Improvement in workup processes and novel treatment options, as well as better understanding of the PA pathogenesis based on genetic research, might be expected to result in increased cure and better care of the patients.

Targeted treatment of primary aldosteronism - The consensus of Taiwan Society of Aldosteronism.

Even with the increasing recognition of primary aldosteronism (PA) as a cause of refractory hypertension and an issue of public health, the consensus of its optimal surgical or medical treatment in Taiwan has not been reached. Our objective was to develop a clinical practice guideline that is feasible for real-world management of PA patients in Taiwan. The Taiwan Society of Aldosteronism (TSA) Task Force recognized the above-mentioned issues and reached this Taiwan PA consensus at its inaugural meeting, in order to provide updated information of internationally acceptable standards, and also to incorporate our local disease characteristics and constraints into PA management. In patients with lateralized PA, including aldosterone producing adenoma (APA), laparoscopic adrenalectomy is the 'gold standard' of treatment. Mini-laparoscopic and laparoendoscopic single-site approaches are feasible only in highly experienced surgeons. Patients with bilateral adrenal hyperplasia or those not suitable for surgery should be treated by mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists. The outcome data of PA patient management from the literature, especially from PA patients in Taiwan, are reviewed. Mental health screening is helpful in early detection and management of psychopathology among PA patients. We hope this consensus will provide a guideline to help medical professionals to manage PA patients in Taiwan to achieve a better quality of care.