title: Homocysteine, renin and aldosterone in patients with Cushing's syndrome.
abstract: In the present study, we assessed the levels of fasting homocysteine in patients with active Cushing's syndrome using two different assay methods. To determine a possible link between homocysteine and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), nine patients with Cushing's syndrome and nine patients with metabolic syndrome were given a 1-month treatment with angiotensin II (AII) receptor blocker valsartan. Plasma homocysteine, active renin and aldosterone did not differ significantly among patients with Cushing's syndrome, patients with metabolic syndrome and controls. As expected, active renin increased significantly during valsartan treatment in patients with Cushing's syndrome as well as in patients with metabolic syndrome. Plasma homocysteine did not change after valsartan treatment, suggesting a lack of direct relationship between homocysteine and RAAS. Our data suggest that homocysteine might not serve as a reliable marker of endogenous hypercortisolism or of cardiovascular risk associated with Cushing's syndrome and metabolic syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Centre of Endocrinology, Sofia Medical University, Bulgaria. zacharieva@uheg.medicalnet-bg.org
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zacharieva
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kirilov
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Orbetzova
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elenkova
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shigarminova
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lozanov
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mitev
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000097:blood*; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003480:Cushing Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D016231:Fluorescence Polarization Immunoassay; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D012083:Renin / Q000097:blood*; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D014633:Valine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D000068756:Valsartan
chemical_list: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D013777:Tetrazoles; D006710:Homocysteine; D000450:Aldosterone; D000068756:Valsartan; D012083:Renin; D014633:Valine