In this study the investigators aim to identify and include consecutively patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) diagnosed in the Western and Mid-parts of Norway, to describe the characteristics of these patients, to explore the cardiac effects of PA before and after specific treatment, and to identify long-term outcomes after treatment. One subgroup of the PA patients perform echocardiography to assess left ventricular systolic myocardial function before and after treatment. One subgroup of PA patients perform cardiac MRI to assess myocardial mass, myocardial fibrosis and myocardial function in rest and during stress, before and after treatment. For the cardiac MRI substudy, the PA patients are compared with a group of healthy controls, also included in the study. From 2022 onwards, PA patients diagnosed or subtyped with adrenal vein sampling at Oslo University Hospital will additionally be included in the study, thereby providing a national registration of PA patients.
From June 2013, all newly diagnosed patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) either diagnosed at Haukeland University Hospital (HUS) or admitted to HUS for subtype testing with adrenal vein sampling, have been asked for inclusion in the study. All included patients have a base-line study visit where clinical information is registered, and baseline blood and urine samples are collected. Echocardiography will be performed in a subgroup of patients before and 1 year after start of specific PA treatment. After start of definite medical or surgical treatment the patients are followed up with regularly new study visits. From 2025 onwards, PA patients diagnosed or subtyped with adrenal vein sampling at Oslo University Hospital will additionally be included in the study, thereby providing a national registration of PA patients. A subgroup of the included PA study patients also perform a Cardiac MRI. Cine-MRI, velocity-encoded MRI, MRI images during continuous adenosine infusion and MRI images after gadolinium contrast injection are performed, and compared to a group of age- and sex-matched healthy controls. From 2025 onwards, PA patients either diagnosed or performing subtyping with adrenal vein sampling at Oslo University Hospital will likewise be asked for study inclusion.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
300
Haukeland University Hospital
Bergen, Norway
RECRUITINGOslo University Hospital
Oslo, Norway
NOT_YET_RECRUITINGLong-term clinical outcome after surgical and medical treatment of PA
Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (mm Hg) will be measured after specific PA treatment for estimation of clinical blood pressure outcome. In adrenalectomized patients clinical outcome will be determined following the international standardized Primary Aldosteronism Surgery Outcome (= PASO) criteria.
Time frame: 5 years
Long-term biochemical outcome after surgical treatment of PA
Biochemical outcome after unilateral adrenalectomy will be determined by measurement of aldosterone (pmol/L), direct renin-concentration (mIE/L) for estimation of aldosterone/renin-ratio and potassium (mmol/L) in blood, following the international standardized PASO (primary aldosteronism surgery outcome) criteria.
Time frame: 5 years
Echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular mass in PA patients before and after treatment
Echocardiography is applied to assess the rate of increased left ventricular mass (g/m2.7 )before and after specific PA treatment. Data will be compared with a control group of patients with primary hypertension (HT), participating in the FAT-associated CardiOvasculaR dysfunction (FATCOR) study, which is a study cohort established at the European Society of Hypertension Excellence Centre in Bergen.
Time frame: 3 years
Echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular systolic function measured as global longitudinal strain in PA patients before and after treatment
Echocardiography is applied to assess the rate of reduced left ventricular systolic myocardial function assessed as global longitudinal strain, before and after specific PA treatment. Data will be compared with a control group of primary hypertension participating in the FAT-associated CardiOvasculaR dysfunction (FATCOR) study, which is a study cohort established at the European Society of Hypertension Excellence Centre in Bergen.
Time frame: 3 years
Echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular systolic function measured as midwall shortening in PA patients before and after treatment
Echocardiography is applied to assess the rate of reduced left ventricular systolic myocardial function before and after specific PA treatment, measured as midwall shortening (%). Data will be compared with a control group of primary hypertension participating in the FAT-associated CardiOvasculaR dysfunction (FATCOR) study, which is a study cohort established at the European Society of Hypertension Excellence Centre in Bergen.
Time frame: 3 years
Incidence of reduced quality of life in PA patients before and after treatment, assessed by Short Form Health Surveys (SF-36/RAND-36)
Quality of life is measured in PA patients before, 1 year and 5 years after specific PA treatment, measured by the approved quality of life Short Form Health Surveys SF-36 and RAND-36, to detect the incidence of reduced quality of life compared with results from the healthy population. SF-36 was used in the period 2013-2016, and has from 2016 onwards been replaced by RAND-36.
Time frame: 5 years
Cardiac MRI assessment of left ventricular mass in PA patients before and after treatment
Cardiac MRI is performed to assess change of left ventricular mass after specific PA treatment
Time frame: 3 years
Cardiac MRI assessment of myocardial fibrosis in PA patients compared with healthy controls
Cardiac MRI with T1 mapping is performed to assess the presence of cardiac fibrosis in PA patients before and after specific PA treatment, compared with a control group of healthy controls
Time frame: 3 years
Cardiac MRI assessment of left coronary flow reserve
Stress testing during cardiac MRI is performed in PA patients and a control group of healthy controls to assess the rate of reduced coronary flow reserve in PA patients before and after specific PA treatment, compared with a control group of healthy controls.
Time frame: 3 years
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.