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Diagnosis under Random Conditions of All Disorders of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone Axis, Including Primary Hyperaldosteronism

Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes Mellitus, St. Vincent's Hospital, and the Department of Medicine, University College Dublin, Ireland

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. T. J. McKenna, Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, St. Vincent's Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland.

Theoretically, the relationship between plasma aldosterone (PA) and PRA in normal subjects under random conditions should differ from that in patients with primary hyperaldosteronism or primary adrenal failure, but should be similar to that in patients with secondary hyperaldosteronism or hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism. PA, expressed as a function of PRA, the PA/PRA ratio, provides an index of adrenal sensitivity in normal subjects under routine conditions. The random PA/PRA ratios in patients with primary adrenal disorders did not overlap with those in normal subjects, patients with secondary adrenal disorders, hypertensive subjects, or other patients. A single elevated PA/PRA ratio, i.e. more than 920, associated with elevated PA in 4 patients or normal PA in 6 patients indicated primary hyperaldosteronism in 10 patients. However, 5 of 17 patients with chronic renal failure had elevated PA/PRA ratios, but did not have primary hyperaldosteronism. All 14 patients with secondary hyperaldosteronism had elevated PA associated with normal PA/PRA ratios. A single PA/PRA ratio of less than 28 associated with low PA in 18 patients and a normal PA in 1 patient indicated primary adrenal insufficiency, while a low PA associated with a normal PA/PRA ratio indicated hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism in 7 patients. Fiftynine patients with nonadrenal disorders other than renal failure had normal PA and PA/PRA ratios. Therefore, with the exception of patients with advanced renal failure, only a single blood sample is required to establish all diagnoses of disorders of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone axis under random conditions.

Received September 12, 1990.

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