Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Special Issue: Current evidence and perspectives for hypertension management in Asia
  • Published:

A controlled trial of percutaneous adrenal arterial embolization for hypertension in patients with idiopathic hyperaldosteronism

A Comment to this article was published on 12 October 2023

Abstract

Our prior study has suggested that percutaneous superselective adrenal arterial embolization (SAAE) with ethanol reduces blood pressure in patients with primary aldosteronism. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of SAAE with mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA) in treating patients with idiopathic hyperaldosteronism. In this prospective, randomized, controlled trial, we randomly assigned patients with idiopathic hyperaldosteronism in a 1:1 ratio to undergo SAAE (n = 29) or receive MRA (n = 30) treatment. The primary endpoint was the change in mean 24-hour ambulatory systolic blood pressure at 6 months. The secondary endpoints included changes in office blood pressure, home blood pressure, correction of aldosterone-to-renin ratio, and adverse events at 6 months. The mean change in 24-h ambulatory systolic blood pressure from baseline to 6-month follow-up was significantly different between the two groups (−8.4 mmHg; 95% confidence interval, −15.2 to −2.1 mmHg; P < 0.01). Office, home, and ambulatory blood pressure reduction at 6 months was more pronounced in the SAAE group than the MRA group (all P < 0.05). Aldosterone-to-renin ratio was lower in the SAAE group than the MRA group at 1 and 3 months (both P < 0.01), while it had no difference between the two groups at 6 months. None of the patients experienced serious adverse events in the perioperative and 6-month follow-up periods. SAAE, as a hormonal debulking procedure, is superior to MRA in blood pressure control and correction of biochemical abnormalities in patients with idiopathic hyperaldosteronism.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Reincke M, Bancos I, Mulatero P, Scholl UI, Stowasser M, Williams TA. Diagnosis and treatment of primary aldosteronism. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2021;9:876–92.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Zennaro MC, Boulkroun S, Fernandes-Rosa FL. Pathogenesis and treatment of primary aldosteronism. Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2020;16:578–89.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Käyser SC, Dekkers T, Groenewoud HJ, van der Wilt GJ, Carel Bakx J, van der Wel MC, et al. Study heterogeneity and estimation of prevalence of primary aldosteronism: a systematic review and meta-regression analysis. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2016;101:2826–35.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Ambrosino P, Lupoli R, Tortora A, Cacciapuoti M, Lupoli GA, Tarantino P, et al. Cardiovascular risk markers in patients with primary aldosteronism: a systematic review and meta-analysis of literature studies. Int J Cardiol. 2016;208:46–55.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Solanki P, Gwini SM, Libianto R, Gabb G, Shen J, Young MJ, et al. Risky business: a single-centre cross-sectional analysis of calculated cardiovascular risk in patients with primary aldosteronism and essential hypertension. BMJ Open. 2022;12:e062406.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Lin X, Ullah MHE, Wu X, Xu F, Shan SK, Lei LM, et al. Cerebro-cardiovascular risk, target organ damage, and treatment outcomes in primary aldosteronism. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2021;8:798364.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Omata K, Satoh F, Morimoto R, Ito S, Yamazaki Y, Nakamura Y, et al. Cellular and genetic causes of idiopathic hyperaldosteronism. Hypertension. 2018;72:874–80.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Funder JW, Carey RM, Mantero F, Murad MH, Reincke M, Shibata H, et al. The management of primary aldosteronism: case detection, diagnosis, and treatment: an endocrine society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2016;101:1889–916.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Naruse M, Katabami T, Shibata H, Sone M, Takahashi K, Tanabe A, et al. Japan Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline for the diagnosis and management of primary aldosteronism 2021. Endocr J. 2022;69:327–59.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Hundemer GL, Curhan GC, Yozamp N, Wang M, Vaidya A. Cardiometabolic outcomes and mortality in medically treated primary aldosteronism: a retrospective cohort study. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2018;6:51–59.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Tezuka Y, Turcu AF. Real-world effectiveness of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists in primary aldosteronism. Front Endocrinol. 2021;12:625457.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Chen SY, Chen JY, Huang WC, Puar THK, Chin Kek P, Chueh JS, et al. Cardiovascular outcomes and all-cause mortality in primary aldosteronism after adrenalectomy or mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist treatment: a meta-analysis. Eur J Endocrinol. 2022;187:S47–s58.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Tang F, Loh LM, Foo RS, Loh WJ, Lim DST, Zhang M, et al. Tolerability and efficacy of long-term medical therapy in primary aldosteronism. J Endocr Soc. 2021;5:bvab144.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  14. Fowler AM, Burda JF, Kim SK. Adrenal artery embolization: anatomy, indications, and technical considerations. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2013;201:190–201.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Hokotate H, Inoue H, Baba Y, Tsuchimochi S, Nakajo M. Aldosteronomas: experience with superselective adrenal arterial embolization in 33 cases. Radiology. 2003;227:401–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Dong H, Zou Y, He J, Deng Y, Chen Y, Song L, et al. Superselective adrenal arterial embolization for idiopathic hyperaldosteronism: 12-month results from a proof-of-principle trial. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv. 2021;97:976–81.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Zhou Y, Liu Q, Wang X, Wan J, Liu S, Luo T, et al. Adrenal ablation versus mineralocorticoid receptor antagonism for the treatment of primary aldosteronism: a single-center prospective cohort study. Am J Hypertens. 2022;35:1014–23.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Shrestha B, Dunn L. The declaration of Helsinki on medical research involving human subjects: a review of seventh revision. J Nepal Health Res Counc. 2020;17:548–52.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Naruse M, Tanabe A, Yamamoto K, Rakugi H, Kometani M, Yoneda T, et al. Adrenal venous sampling for subtype diagnosis of primary hyperaldosteronism. Endocrinol Metab. 2021;36:965–73.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Atherosclerosis H. Obesity in the young committee of the american heart association council on cardiovascular disease in the Y, Alpert B, McCrindle B, Daniels S, Dennison B, et al. Recommendations for blood pressure measurement in human and experimental animals; part 1: blood pressure measurement in humans. Hypertension. 2006;48:e3.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Agarwal R, Tu W. Minimally sufficient numbers of measurements for validation of 24-hour blood pressure monitoring in chronic kidney disease. Kidney Int. 2018;94:1199–204.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Zhao Z, Liu X, Zhang H, Li Q, He H, Yan Z, et al. Catheter-based adrenal ablation remits primary aldosteronism: a randomized medication-controlled trial. Circulation. 2021;144:580–2.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Buffolo F, Tetti M, Mulatero P, Monticone S. Aldosterone as a mediator of cardiovascular damage. Hypertension. 2022;79:1899–911.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Karashima S, Yoneda T, Kometani M, Ohe M, Mori S, Sawamura T, et al. Comparison of eplerenone and spironolactone for the treatment of primary aldosteronism. Hypertens Res. 2016;39:133–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Parthasarathy HK, Ménard J, White WB, Young WF Jr., Williams GH, Williams B, et al. A double-blind, randomized study comparing the antihypertensive effect of eplerenone and spironolactone in patients with hypertension and evidence of primary aldosteronism. J Hypertens. 2011;29:980–90.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Sukor N, Gordon RD, Ku YK, Jones M, Stowasser M. Role of unilateral adrenalectomy in bilateral primary aldosteronism: a 22-year single center experience. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2009;94:2437–45.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Lu YC, Liu KL, Wu VC, Wang SM, Lin YH, Chueh SJ, et al. Unilateral adrenalectomy in bilateral adrenal hyperplasia with primary aldosteronism. J Formos Med Assoc. 2023;122:393–9.

  28. Szabo Yamashita T, Shariq OA, Foster TR, Lyden ML, Dy BM, Young WF Jr., et al. Unilateral adrenalectomy for primary aldosteronism due to bilateral adrenal disease can result in resolution of hypokalemia and amelioration of hypertension. World J Surg. 2023;47:314–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Inoue H, Nakajo M, Miyazono N, Kanetsuki I, Miyake S, Hokotate H, et al. Treatment of aldosteronoma with superselective intraarterial injection of absolute ethanol. Nihon Igaku Hoshasen Gakkai Zasshi. 1994;54:154–62.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Zhou Y, Wang D, Liu Q, Hou J, Wang P. Case report: percutaneous adrenal arterial embolization cures resistant hypertension. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2022;9:1013426.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  31. Oguro S, Morimoto R, Seiji K, Ota H, Kinoshita T, Kawabata M, et al. Safety and feasibility of radiofrequency ablation using bipolar electrodes for aldosterone-producing adenoma: a multicentric prospective clinical study. Sci Rep. 2022;12:14090.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Sun F, Liu X, Zhang H, Zhou X, Zhao Z, He H, et al. Catheter-based adrenal ablation: an alternative therapy for patients with aldosterone-producing adenoma. Hypertens Res. 2022;46:91–9.

  33. Rossitto G, Battistel M, Barbiero G, Bisogni V, Maiolino G, Diego M, et al. The subtyping of primary aldosteronism by adrenal vein sampling: sequential blood sampling causes factitious lateralization. J Hypertens. 2018;36:335–43.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Rossi GP, Rossitto G. Aldosterone and cardiovascular damage: a new lesson from an old study. Hypertension. 2022;79:1994–6.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Loh KC, Koay ES, Khaw MC, Emmanuel SC, Young WF Jr. Prevalence of primary aldosteronism among Asian hypertensive patients in Singapore. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2000;85:2854–9.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Kario K, Wang JG. Could 130/80 mm Hg be adopted as the diagnostic threshold and management goal of hypertension in consideration of the characteristics of Asian populations? Hypertension. 2018;71:979–84.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This work was partially supported by a grant from National Natural Science Foundation of China (81970262 to P.W.). The funding source had no role in the design of the study and did not participate in study execution, analysis or interpretation of the data, or the decision to submit the results for publication.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peijian Wang.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zhou, Y., Wang, X., Hou, J. et al. A controlled trial of percutaneous adrenal arterial embolization for hypertension in patients with idiopathic hyperaldosteronism. Hypertens Res 47, 311–321 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41440-023-01420-w

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41440-023-01420-w

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Quick links