Bars in the boxplots above indicate maximum and minimum values, whilst the box itself represents the interquartile range. There was no significant difference in MAP at presentation between co-secretors (median 118 mmHg (140–91), range 83 to 146) and non-co-secretors (median 112 mmHg (128–104)). d Comparison of mean arterial pressure at referral between co-secretors and non-co-secretors. There was no significant difference in serum HDL at presentation between co-secretors (median 1.2 mM (1.4–1.1), range 0.98 to 1.5) and non-co-secretors (median 1.3 mM (1.5–0.9)). c Comparison of serum HDL at referral between co-secretors and non-co-secretors. There was no significant difference in serum cholesterol at presentation between co-secretors (median 5.1 mM (5.8–4.3), range 4 to 5.9) and non-co-secretors (median 4.8 mM (6.5–4.2)). b Comparison of serum cholesterol at presentation between co-secretors and non-co-secretors. There was no significant difference in ALT at presentation between co-secretors (median 22 IU/l (52–12), range 11 to 61) and non-co-secretors (median 27 IU/l (44–16)). The impact of co-secretion on metabolic profile and surgical management remains unclear and warrants further study.Īdrenal cortex Aldosterone Co-secretion Cortisol Cushing’s syndrome Hyperaldosteronism Metabolic profile.Ī Comparison of serum ALT at presentation between confirmed co-secretors and confirmed non-co-secretors. Co-secretors did not have a worse metabolic profile than non-secretors. No significant difference was found in serum ALT, total cholesterol, serum HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and mean arterial blood pressure at presentation between co-secretors and non-co-secretors.Ī frequency range of 4-16% suggests that a significant proportion of patients with primary hyperaldosteronism co-secrete cortisol. This suggests a frequency of co-secretion ranging between 4 and 16%. Post-dexamethasone suppression test cortisol, serum ALT, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HbA1C (were recorded) and mean arterial pressure are reported in this cohort of patients with primary hyperaldosteronism.įour out of 25 patients with primary hyperaldosteronism failed dexamethasone suppression tests. Our aim was to determine the frequency of cortisol co-secretion in primary hyperaldosteronism at our institution and investigate the difference in metabolic profiles and clinical outcomes between co-secreting and non-co-secreting patients.Ī retrospective study of 25 patients with primary hyperaldosteronism who also underwent formal dexamethasone suppression tests to determine cortisol co-secretion. This has important implications for their clinical management. It has recently been suggested that many more adenomas than previously thought secrete more than one hormone. Adrenal adenomas are usually non-functioning, but can secrete aldosterone or cortisol.

Secretes cortisol and aldosterone