Aldosterone-potassium ratio predicts primary aldosteronism subtype.

OBJECTIVE: Prediction models have been developed to predict either unilateral or bilateral primary aldosteronism, and these have not been validated externally. We aimed to develop a simplified score to predict both subtypes and validate this externally. METHODS: Our development cohort was taken from 165 patients who underwent adrenal vein sampling (AVS) in two Asian tertiary centres. Unilateral disease was determined using both AVS and postoperative outcome. Multivariable analysis was used to construct prediction models. We validated our tool in a European cohort of 97 patients enrolled in the SPARTACUS trial who underwent AVS. Previously published prediction models were also tested in our cohorts. RESULTS: Backward stepwise logistic regression analysis yielded a final tool using baseline aldosterone-to-lowest-potassium ratio (APR, ng/dl/mmol/l), with an area under receiver-operating characteristic curve of 0.80 (95% CI 0.70-0.89). In the Asian development cohort, probability of bilateral disease was 90.0% (with APR <5) and probability of unilateral disease was 91.4% (with APR >15). Similar results were seen in the European validation cohort. Combining both cohorts, probability of bilateral disease was 76.7% (with APR <5), and probability for unilateral was 91.7% (with APR >15). Other models had similar predictive ability but required more variables, and were less sensitive for identifying bilateral PA. CONCLUSION: The novel aldosterone-to-lowest-potassium ratio is a convenient score to guide clinicians and patients of various ethnicities on the probability of primary aldosteronism subtype. Using APR to identify patients more likely to benefit from AVS may be a cost-effective strategy to manage this common condition.

ClariVein™ - One year results of mechano-chemical ablation for varicose veins in a multi-ethnic Asian population from Singapore.

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the effectiveness and patient experience of ClariVein for varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) in a multi-ethnic Asian population from Singapore. METHODS: A total of 121 patients underwent mechano-chemical ablation. Patients were reviewed at an interval of one week, and at 3, 6 and 12 months post procedure and underwent Duplex ultrasound with patient satisfaction assessment. RESULTS: At three months of follow-up, the great saphenous vein and short saphenous vein occlusion rates were 90.8% and 96.0%, respectively. At six months of follow-up, the GSV and short saphenous vein occlusion rates were 86.9% and 90.9%, respectively. At one year, great saphenous vein and short saphenous vein occlusion rates were 84.8% and 94.3%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Early results are similar to what is described so far in the mechano-chemical ablation literature but recurrences are more than expected at one year. This is disappointing but is tempered by the fact that the majority of patients were asymptomatic and required no reintervention.