Circadian Rhythm of Plasma Aldosterone Concentration in Patients with Primary Aldosteronism

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Abstract

Plasma aldosterone, cortisol, and renin activity were measured in nine recumbent patients with hyperaldosteronism, including seven with adenomas, one with idiopathic hyperplasia, and one with glucocorticoid suppressible hyperplasia. All had peak values of plasma aldosterone concentration from 3 a.m. to noon and lowest values at 6 p.m. or midnight. This rhythm was similar to the circadian pattern of plasma cortisol in the same patients. When these data were normalized to eliminate the wide variation in ranges of plasma aldosterone and cortisol between individuals, there was an excellent correlation (r = + 0.87, P < 0.005) between the two hormones. In contrast, plasma aldosterone concentrations did not correlate with plasma renin activity before or after normalization of data.

Authors

David C. Kem, Myron H. Weinberger, Celso Gomez-Sanchez, Norman J. Kramer, Robert Lerman, Shunsuke Furuyama, Charles A. Nugent