Endocrine Abstracts

In the light of recent data reporting a high rate of cardiovascular events in Primary Aldosteronism (PA) we investigated whether the Metabolic Syndrome (MS) represents a common feature in patients with PA. A cohort of 86 patients, mean age 51±12 yr was analysed: 59 patients (26 females and 39 males) with idiopathic hyperaldosteronism (IHA) and 27 patients (13 females and 14 males) with aldosterone producing adenoma (APA). Anthropometric parameters (height, weight, waist c...

Adiponectin, a recently discovered protein which is secreted by the adipose tissue, exerts anti-inflammatory and anti atherogenic properties, but also promotes glucose uptake by skeletal muscle and fatty acids oxidation. Patients with hypertension and obesity have reduced plasma levels of adiponectin so that they lack its beneficial metabolic effects. However no data are available in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA). In order to investigate the role of the adiponectin ...

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is characterized by development of cardiovascular and metabolic complications. We retrospectively analyzed 78 patients with PA: 29 had aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA), and 49 had idiopathic hyperaldosteronism (IHA). The study of complications was performed by examining the lipid and glucose profiles (OGTT, HOMA and Quicki indexes) and the echocardiographic parameters. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the aldosterone synthase (minus 344C/...

Mutations in the HSD11B2 gene explain the syndrome of apparent mineralocorticoid excess (AME), which is characterised by severe hypokalemic hypertension. The enzyme product of the HSD11B2 gene, 11-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11beta HSD2), converts cortisol to its inactive form, cortisone. This reaction occurs primarily in the kidney, preventing the mineralocorticoid effects of cortisol, and in the placenta where it is believed to regulate fetal growth by protecti...