Increased Dosage of MRA Improves BP and Urinary Albumin Excretion in Primary Aldosteronism With Suppressed Plasma Renin

Abstract/Summary:

Excessive aldosterone secretion causes a high risk of cardio-cerebrovascular events. Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) is 1 of the treatment strategies for primary aldosteronism (PA). However, current MRA treatment is insufficient because MRA-treated patients with suppressed plasma renin activity (PRA) < 1 ng/mL/h still had a higher risk of cardiovascular disease than those with unsuppressed PRA. This is a prospective interventional study to determine the effects of an increase in MRA dosage on blood pressure (BP) control and urinary albumin excretion (UAE) in MRA-treated PA patients. Thirty-four PA patients were recruited, and 24 patients (6 male, 18 female) completed this study. Serum potassium concentration was assessed every two months to adjust the dosage of MRA safely for 6 months. The primary outcomes were the changes in BP and UAE between baseline and 6 months. Systolic BP (SBP) and log10UAE decreased significantly as the daily dose of MRA increased. Diastolic BP (DBP) tended to decrease. We divided the PA patients into two groups (baseline PRA < 1 ng/mL/h and baseline PRA ≥ 1 ng/mL/h) according to PRA. In the group with baseline PRA < 1 ng/mL/h but not that with baseline PRA ≥ 1 ng/mL/h, SBP, DBP and log10UAE after 6 months were significantly lower than those at baseline. The increase in MRA dosage improved BP and UAE in PA patients with suppressed PRA.

Authors: Aya Saiki, Michio Otsuki, Daisuke Tamada, Tetsuhiro Kitamura, Kosuke Mukai, Koichi Yamamoto, Iichiro Shimomura
Keywords: MRA dosage, urinary albumin excretion
DOI Number: 10.1210/jendso/bvab174      Publication Year: 2021

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