title: The prediction of anatomical morphology of primary aldosteronism using serum 18-hydroxycorticosterone levels.
abstract: Serum 18-hydroxycorticosterone, aldosterone, and potassium were measured under basal conditions in 34 patients with documented primary aldosteronism, 10 patients with essential hypertension, and 9 normal subjects. The results revealed that 22 of 23 patients with aldosterone-producing adenomas had 18-hydroxycorticosterone levels greater than 100 ng/dl, and all 9 patients with idiopathic adrenal hyperplasia had plasma levels less than 100 ng/dl. Two patients with unusual macromicronodular hyperplasia of the adrenal glands had levels greater than 100 ng/dl. We found a significant relationship between serum potassium and the ratio of 18-hydroxycorticosterone to aldosterone in patients with idiopathic adrenal hyperplasia, but not in those with an aldosterone-producing adenoma. We conclude that measurement of serum 18-hydroxycorticosterone is a useful predictor of the etiology of primary aldosteronism.
mesh_terms: D015069:18-Hydroxycorticosterone / Q000097:blood*; D000236:Adenoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000473:pathology*; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000097:blood; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D006801:Humans; D006929:Hyperaldosteronism / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology*; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000097:blood; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000450:Aldosterone; D015069:18-Hydroxycorticosterone; D011188:Potassium; D003345:Corticosterone