Improved quality of life, blood pressure, and biochemical status following laparoscopic adrenalectomy for unilateral primary aldosteronism.
BACKGROUND
In 22 patients with unilateral primary aldosteronism (UPA), unilateral laparoscopic adrenalectomy (ADX) not only corrected hypokalemia and led to cure or improvement of hypertension, but also significantly improved quality of life (QOL).


METHODS
In this pilot study, QOL was evaluated prospectively using SF-36 questionnaire before and 3 and 6 months after ADX in 22 patients [14 males] with UPA who underwent ADX within the Endocrine Hypertension Research Center, Greenslopes and Princess Alexandra Hospitals, between June 2007 and June 2008.


RESULTS
Eighty-six percent of patients were cured of hypertension, and the remainder improved. Plasma potassium normalized and, whereas renin concentration increased, plasma aldosterone, aldosterone/renin ratio, and number of antihypertensive agents decreased. Preoperatively, SF-36 scores for each QOL domain were lower for UPA patients than reported for the Australian general population, especially for physical functioning, role physical, vitality, and general health. Significant improvements were seen at 3 months in physical functioning, role physical, social functioning, role emotional, general health, mental health, and vitality and at 6 months in physical functioning, role physical, general health, role emotional, mental health, and vitality.


CONCLUSIONS
Unilateral adrenalectomy had positive impacts not only on blood pressure and biochemical parameters, but also on QOL, which was impaired preoperatively but significantly improved by 3 months postoperatively.
Sukor
Norlela
N
Hypertension Unit, University of Queensland School of Medicine, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Ipswich Road, Woolloongabba, Brisbane 4102, Australia.
Kogovsek
Cynthia
C
Gordon
Richard D
RD
Robson
Dianne
D
Stowasser
Michael
M
D000315:Adrenalectomy / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D006929:Hyperaldosteronism / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D007008:Hypokalemia / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012083:Renin / Q000097:blood; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000450:Aldosterone; D012083:Renin