Diagnostic Properties of Aldosterone-Renin Ratio in Primary Aldosteronism Among Hypertensives.

Erasmus University

Status

Unknown

Conditions

Hypertension

Hyperaldosteronism

Treatments

Drug: eplerenone

Study type

Observational

Funder types

Other

Industry

Identifiers

NCT00407784

EudraCT nr: 2006-006618-13

C05.2151

MEC-2006-103

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic value of the Aldosterone-Renin Ratio (ARR)as a screening test for primary aldosteronism among hypertensives. The test characteristics will be studied. Furthermore, the effect of eplerenone, a selective aldosterone-receptor antagonist will be studied.

Full description

Although primary aldosteronism (PA) was formerly seen as a rare cause of hypertension, this condition is now thought to be the commonest cause of secondary hypertension, with the prevalence ranging up to 10-15 % of all hypertensives. Identification of patients with PA allows for specific treatment, for instance unilateral adrenalectomy in case of an aldosterone-producing adenoma or the administration of an aldosterone-receptor antagonist in case of bilateral adrenal hyperplasia.

Since the introduction of the aldosterone-renin ratio (ARR) as a screening tool for PA in 1981, there has been considerable debate about the diagnostic value. The values for aldosterone and renin are highly dependent on many factors, including posture, time of day and medication. Also, the cut-off values for the identification of PA remain controversial.

This study aims to evaluate the test characteristics of the ARR in a population of patients with therapy-resistant hypertension, the dependence of the ARR on medication type and the predictive value on the response on eplerenone, a selective aldosterone-receptor antagonist.

Sex

All

Ages

18 to 65 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria