Primary aldosteronism (PA), characterized by a hypersecretion of aldosterone from the adrenal gland, increases the risks of cardiovascular disease. However, there is limited report on the changes of echocardiographic parameters after adrenalectomy in patients with PA. This study aimed to assess the multiple changes of echocardiographic parameters, including left atrial (LA) enlargement, diastolic dysfunction, left ventricular (LV) systolic function, and LV hypertrophy, pre- and post-adrenalectomy. In a retrospective cohort study, we analyzed a total of 122 patients with aldosterone-producing adenoma who underwent unilateral adrenalectomy from 2009 to 2016. All patients were diagnosed with unilateral hyperaldosteronism on the basis of segmental adrenal venous sampling (S-AVS). We excluded patients with a history of myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, or bilateral hyperaldosteronism. Echocardiography was performed before and 1-year after adrenalectomy and we evaluated multiple echocardiographic parameters. After surgery, blood pressure, plasma aldosterone concentration and 24-hour urinary aldosterone excretion declined significantly (all P < 0.001). In echocardiography, LA diameter (LAD) decreased significantly (34.3 [30.9-37.5] to 33.8 [30.5-36.0] mm; P = 0.001). Early diastolic filling velocity to septal early diastolic mitral annular tissue velocity ratio tended to decrease (8.25 [6.99-9.58] to 7.9 [6.8-9.4], P = 0.22). LV diastolic internal dimension (48.3 [45.3-51.3] to 46.8 [42.6-49.5] mm), LV posterior wall thickness (8.5 [7.5-9.4] to 7.9 [7.4-9.0] mm), and LV mass index (LVMI) (101.17 [84.3-123.2] to 87.4 [77.0-103.2] g/m2) decreased significantly (all P < 0.001). Ejection fraction, fractional shortening, cardiac index did not change significantly. The most influencing factors to changes in LAD and LVMI were pre-operative values of each echocardiographic parameter. Our results indicate that correction of hyperaldosteronism by adrenalectomy improves LA enlargement and LV hypertrophy in patients with aldosterone-producing adenoma. The improvement effects on these parameters may be exerted depending on pre-operative abnormality. Adrenalectomy could be an effective treatment for decreasing risks of cardiovascular disease by improving blood pressure and cardioprotective effect.
