Assessing Lateralization Index of Adrenal Venous Sampling for Surgical Indication in Primary Aldosteronism.

BACKGROUND: Clinical practice guidelines recommend the Lateralization Index (LI) as the standard for determining surgical eligibility in primary aldosteronism (PA). Our goal was to identify the optimal LI cut-offs in adrenal venous sampling (AVS) for diagnosing PA that is amenable to surgical cure. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective international cohort study across 16 institutions in 11 countries, including 1,550 patients with PA who underwent AVS, with and/or without ACTH stimulation. The establishment of optimal cut-offs was informed by a survey of 82 PA patients in Japan, aimed at determining the LI cut-off aligned with patient expectations for a surgical cure rate. RESULTS: The survey revealed that a median cure rate expectation of 80% would motivate PA patients towards undergoing adrenalectomy. The optimal LI cut-offs achieving an adjusted positive predictive value (PPV) of 80% were identified as 3.8 for unstimulated AVS and 3.4 for ACTH-stimulated AVS. Furthermore, a contralateral ratio of less than 0.4 and the detection of an adrenal nodule on CT imaging were identified as independent predictors of surgically curable PA. Incorporating these factors with the optimal LI cut-offs, the adjusted PPV increased to 96.6% for unstimulated AVS and 89.6% for ACTH-stimulated AVS. No clear differences in predictive ability between unstimulated and ACTH-stimulated LI were found. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The present study clarified the optimal LI cut-offs for without and with ACTH stimulation. The presence of contralateral suppression and adrenal nodule on CT imaging seems to provide additional available information besides LI for surgical indication.

Biochemical Control in Cushing's syndrome: Outcomes of the treatment in a large single center cohort.

BACKGROUND: Normalization of hypercortisolism is essential to reduce morbidity and mortality in patients with Cushing's syndrome (CS). The aim of this analysis was to assess biochemical control rates in patients with Cushing's disease (CD), ectopic Cushing's syndrome (ECS) and adrenal Cushing's syndrome (ACS). METHODS: Patients with confirmed CS (n= 296) treated in a single tertiary care center were retrospectively analysed (185 CD, 27 ECS, 84 uni- and bilateral ACS). RESULTS: Firstline treatment led to biochemical control in 82% of the patients. Time to biochemical control (median, IQR) was longer in CD (11.0 weeks, 5.6-29.8; p< 0.05) than in ACS (7.7 weeks, 4.1-17.1) and ECS (5.6 weeks, 4.1-23.3). Disease persistence or recurrence after first-line therapy was observed more often in CD (24% and 18%; p< 0.05) than in ECS (15% and 15%) and ACS (6% and 4%). Total time in hypercortisolism since diagnosis was significantly shorter in patients with CD diagnosed since 2013, after specialized patient care was implemented, compared to patients diagnosed before 2013 (13.5 weeks, vs. 26.1 weeks; p< 0.0070). Control of hypercortisolism at last follow up (76 months, 38-163) was achieved in 94% of patients with ACS, 100% of patients with ECS and 92% of patients with CD. CONCLUSIONS: Biochemical control can be achieved in most patients with different subtypes of CS within a reasonable time frame. Control of hypercortisolism has improved over time.

Moderate salt restriction in primary aldosteronism improves bone metabolism through attenuation of urinary calcium and phosphate losses.

Accumulating evidence links osteoporosis and dietary salt consumption. Primary aldosteronism (PA) is a model disease with increased dietary salt intake and constitutes an independent risk factor for osteoporosis. We, thus, assessed whether a short-term moderate reduction in salt intake in PA results in detectable osteoanabolic effects. Forty-one patients with PA on stable mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist therapy were subjected to a 12-week salt restriction. Serum and urinary electrolytes, markers of bone turnover, and a 15 steroids plasma profile were registered. After 12 weeks, urinary calcium and phosphate decreased, while plasma testosterone, serum phosphate, and bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP) all increased significantly. Longitudinal changes in BAP were independently correlated with changes in serum phosphate, parathyroid hormone, and urinary calcium in multivariate analysis. Salt restriction in PA limits urinary calcium and phosphate losses and may confer favorable osteoanabolic effects. Our findings suggest that salt restriction should be considered in patients with PA to improve bone health.

Opposing effects of cannabidiol in patient-derived neuroendocrine tumor, pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma primary cultures.

CONTEXT: Treatment options for advanced neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (together PPGLs) are still limited. In recent years, anti-tumor effects of cannabinoids have been reported; however, there are only very limited data available in NETs or PPGLs. OBJECTIVE: Investigation of the effects of cannabidiol (CBD) on patient-derived human NET/PPGL primary cultures and on NET/PPGL cell lines. METHODS: We established primary cultures derived from 46 different patients with PPGLs (n = 35) or NETs (n = 11) who underwent tumor resection at two centers. Treatment of patient primary cultures with clinically relevant doses (5 µM) and slightly higher doses (10 µM) of CBD was performed. RESULTS: We found opposing effects of 5 µM CBD: significant anti-tumor effects in 5/35 (14%) and significant tumor-promoting effects in 6/35 (17%) of PPGL primary cultures. In terms of anti-tumor effects, cluster 2-related PPGLs showed significantly stronger responsivity to CBD compared to cluster 1-related PPGLs (p = 0.042). Of the cluster 2-related tumors, NF1 PPGLs showed strongest responsivity (4/5 PPGL primary cultures with a significant decrease in cell viability were NF1-mutated). We also found opposing effects of 10 µM CBD in PPGLs and NETs: significant anti-tumor effects in 9/33 of PPGL (27%) and 3/11 of NET (27%) primary cultures, significant tumor-promoting effects in 6/33 of PPGL (18%) and 2/11 of NET (18%) primary cultures. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest a potential novel treatment option for some NETs/PPGLs, but also provide evidence for caution when applying cannabinoids as supportive therapy for pain or appetite management to cancer patients, and possibly as health supplements.

Familial hyperaldosteronism: an European Reference Network on Rare Endocrine Conditions clinical practice guideline.

We describe herein the European Reference Network on Rare Endocrine Conditions clinical practice guideline on diagnosis and management of familial forms of hyperaldosteronism. The guideline panel consisted of 10 experts in primary aldosteronism, endocrine hypertension, paediatric endocrinology, and cardiology as well as a methodologist. A systematic literature search was conducted, and because of the rarity of the condition, most recommendations were based on expert opinion and small patient series. The guideline includes a brief description of the genetics and molecular pathophysiology associated with each condition, the patients to be screened, and how to screen. Diagnostic and treatment approaches for patients with genetically determined diagnosis are presented. The recommendations apply to patients with genetically proven familial hyperaldosteronism and not to families with more than one case of primary aldosteronism without demonstration of a responsible pathogenic variant.

Subtype Identification of Surgically Curable Primary Aldosteronism During Treatment With Mineralocorticoid Receptor Blockade.

BACKGROUND: Current guidelines and consensus documents recommend withdrawal of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) before primary aldosteronism (PA) subtyping by adrenal vein sampling (AVS), but this practice can cause severe hypokalemia and uncontrolled high blood pressure. Our aim was to investigate if unilateral PA can be identified by AVS during MRA treatment. METHODS: We compared the rate of unilateral PA identification between patients with and without MRA treatment in large data sets of patients submitted to AVS while off renin-angiotensin system blockers and ß-blockers. In sensitivity analyses, the between-group differences of lateralization index values after propensity score matching and the rate of unilateral PA identification in subgroups with undetectable (≤2 mUI/L), suppressed (<8.2 mUI/L), and unsuppressed (≥8.2 mUI/L) direct renin concentration levels were also evaluated. RESULTS: Plasma aldosterone concentration, direct renin concentration, and blood pressure values were similar in non-MRA-treated (n=779) and MRA-treated (n=61) patients with PA, but the latter required more antihypertensive agents (P=0.001) and showed a higher rate of adrenal nodules (82% versus 67%; P=0.022) and adrenalectomy (72% versus 54%; P=0.01). However, they exhibited no significant differences in commonly used AVS indices and the area under the receiving operating characteristic curve of lateralization index, both under unstimulated conditions and postcosyntropin. Several sensitivity analyses confirmed these results in propensity score matching adjusted models and in patients with undetectable, or suppressed or unsuppressed renin levels. CONCLUSIONS: At doses that controlled blood pressure and potassium levels, MRAs did not preclude the identification of unilateral PA at AVS. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT01234220.

Screening for Primary Aldosteronism by Mass Spectrometry Versus Immunoassay Measurements of Aldosterone: A Prospective Within-Patient Study.

BACKGROUND: Measurements of aldosterone by mass spectrometry are more accurate and less prone to interferences than immunoassay measurements, and may produce a more accurate aldosterone:renin ratio (ARR) when screening for primary aldosteronism (PA). METHODS: Differences in diagnostic performance of the ARR using mass spectrometry vs immunoassay measurements of aldosterone were examined in 710 patients screened for PA. PA was confirmed in 153 patients and excluded in 451 others. Disease classifications were not achieved in 106 patients. Areas under receiver-operating characteristic curves (AUROC) and other measures were used to compare diagnostic performance. RESULTS: Mass spectrometry-based measurements yielded lower plasma aldosterone concentrations than immunoassay measurements. For the ARR based on immunoassay measurements of aldosterone, AUROCs were slightly lower (P = 0.018) than those using mass spectrometry measurements (0.895 vs 0.906). The cutoff for the ARR to reach a sensitivity of 95% was 30 and 21.5 pmol/mU by respective immunoassay and mass spectrometry-based measurements, which corresponded to specificities of 57% for both. With data restricted to patients with unilateral PA, diagnostic sensitivities of 94% with specificities >81% could be achieved at cutoffs of 61 and 52 pmol/mU for respective immunoassay and mass spectrometry measurements. CONCLUSIONS: Mass spectrometry-based measurements of aldosterone for the ARR provide no clear diagnostic advantage over immunoassay-based measurements. Both approaches offer limited diagnostic accuracy for the ARR as a screening test. One solution is to employ the higher cutoffs to triage patients likely to have unilateral PA for further tests and possible adrenalectomy, while using the lower cutoffs to identify others for targeted medical therapy.German Clinical Trials Register ID: DRKS00017084.

A proposed clinical classification for pituitary neoplasms to guide therapy and prognosis.

No comprehensive classification system that guides prognosis and therapy of pituitary adenomas exists. The 2022 WHO histopathology-based classification system can only be applied to lesions that are resected, which represent few clinically significant pituitary adenomas. Many factors independent of histopathology provide mechanistic insight into causation and influence prognosis and treatment of pituitary adenomas. We propose a new approach to guide prognosis and therapy of pituitary adenomas by integrating clinical, genetic, biochemical, radiological, pathological, and molecular information for all adenomas arising from anterior pituitary cell lineages. The system uses an evidence-based scoring of risk factors to yield a cumulative score that reflects disease severity and can be used at the bedside to guide pituitary adenoma management. Once validated in prospective studies, this simple manageable classification system could provide a standardised platform for assessing disease severity, prognosis, and effects of therapy on pituitary adenomas.

Unilateral Primary Aldosteronism: Long-Term Disease Recurrence After Adrenalectomy.

BACKGROUND: Primary aldosteronism (PA) is frequently caused by a unilateral aldosterone-producing adenoma with a PA-driver mutation. Unilateral adrenalectomy has a high probability of short-term biochemical remission, but long-term postsurgical outcomes are relatively undefined. Our objective was to investigate the incidence of long-term recurrence of PA in individuals with postsurgical short-term biochemical remission. METHODS: Adrenalectomized patients for unilateral PA were included from a single referral center. Histopathology and outcomes were assessed according to international histopathology of unilateral primary aldosteronism and PASO (Primary Aldosteronism Surgical Outcome) consensuses. Genotyping was performed using CYP11B2 (aldosterone synthase)-guided sequencing. RESULTS: Classical adrenal histopathology, exemplified by a solitary aldosterone-producing adenoma, was observed in 78% of 90 adrenals, compared with 22% with nonclassical histopathology. The classical group displayed higher aldosterone-to-renin ratios (P=0.013) and lower contralateral ratios (P=0.008). Outcome assessments at both short (12 months [7; 12]) and long (89 months [48; 124]) terms were available for 57 patients. At short-term assessment, 53 (93%) displayed complete biochemical success (43 classical and 10 nonclassical), but long-term assessment demonstrated biochemical PA recurrence in 12 (23%) with an overrepresentation of the nonclassical histopathology (6 [60%] of 10 nonclassical histopathology versus 6 [14%] of 43 classical histopathology; P=0.005). PA-driver mutations were identified in 97% of 64 aldosterone-producing adenomas; there was no association of the aldosterone-producing adenoma genotype with PA recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial proportion of individuals display postsurgical biochemical recurrence of PA, which is related to the histopathology of the resected adrenal gland. These findings emphasize the role of histopathology and the requirement for continued outcome assessment in the management of surgically treated patients for PA.

Sleep disturbances in primary aldosteronism are associated to depressive symptoms - Could specific mineralocorticoidreceptors be a common pathway?

Symptoms of depression and anxiety are frequent in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) and are supposed to be independent risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). As patients with PA have an increased cardiovascular risk compared to patients with essential hypertension, sleep disturbances, which often accompany depressive and anxiety symptoms, may be an additional contributor to the cardiometabolic consequences of PA. To clarify this possible link we investigated 132 patients with PA at baseline and after one year after initiation of treatment either by adrenalectomy (ADX) or mineralocorticoid-receptor-antagonist (MRA). Sleep disturbances and daytime sleepiness were assessed with Pittsburg sleep Inventory (PSQI) and Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS). Patients with PA showed pathological scores for sleep disturbances at baseline according to PSQI, with females being more affected (8.1 vs. 5.7 p < 0.001), which was significantly improved after initiation of specific treatment (p = 0.002). For ESS we found scores within the normal range, but higher than the general population, which significantly improved at follow-up (p < 0.001). The intensity of sleep disturbances was highly correlated with scores of anxiety and depression at baseline and follow-up. However, clinical and biochemical markers of PA (e.g. aldosterone, blood pressure) and metabolic markers did not show a consistent association with sleep changes. The degree of improvement in PSQI was significantly associated with the improvement of brief patients health questionnaire (PHQD) (p = 0.0151). Sleep disturbances seem not to be an independent risk factor for cardiovascular and metabolic problems in PA. They are strongly associated to depressive symptoms and maybe mediated by the same mineralocorticoid receptor circuits.

Effect of mild cortisol cosecretion on body composition and metabolic parameters in patients with primary hyperaldosteronism.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of simultaneous cortisol cosecretion (CCS) on body composition in computed tomography (CT)-imaging and metabolic parameters in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) with the objective of facilitating early detection. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. PATIENTS: Forty-seven patients with PA and CCS confirmed by 1-mg dexamethasone suppression test (DST) with a cutoff of ≥1.8 µg/dL were compared with PA patients with excluded CCS (non-CCS, n = 47) matched by age and sex. METHODS: Segmentation of the fat compartments and muscle area at the third lumbar region was performed on non-contrast-enhanced CT images with dedicated segmentation software. Additionally, liver, spleen, pancreas and muscle attenuation were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Mean cortisol after DST was 1.2 µg/dL (33.1 nmol/L) in the non-CCS group and 3.2 µg/dL (88.3 nmol/L) in the CCS group with mild autonomous cortisol excess (MACE). No difference in total, visceral and subcutaneous fat volumes was observed between the CCS and non-CCS group (p = .7, .6 and .8, respectively). However, a multivariable regression analysis revealed a significant correlation between total serum cholesterol and results of serum cortisol after 1-mg DST (p = .026). Classification of the patients based on visible lesion on CT and PA-lateralization via adrenal venous sampling also did not show any significant differences in body composition. CONCLUSION: MACE in PA patients does not translate into body composition changes on CT-imaging. Therefore, early detection of concurrent CCS in PA is currently only attainable through biochemical tests. Further investigation of the long-term clinical adverse effects of MACE in PA is necessary.

Multifocal, Asymmetric Bilateral Primary Aldosteronism Cannot be Excluded by Strong Adrenal Vein Sampling Lateralization: An International Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Primary aldosteronism (PA) has been broadly dichotomized into unilateral and bilateral forms. Adrenal vein sampling (AVS) lateralization indices (LI) ≥2 to 4 are the standard-of-care to recommend unilateral adrenalectomy for presumed unilateral PA. We aimed to assess the rates and characteristics of residual PA after AVS-guided adrenalectomy. METHODS: We conducted an international, retrospective, cohort study of patients with PA from 7 referral centers who underwent unilateral adrenalectomy based on LI≥4 on baseline and/or cosyntropin-stimulated AVS. Aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) immunohistochemistry and next generation sequencing were performed on available formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded adrenal tissue. RESULTS: The cohort included 283 patients who underwent AVS-guided adrenalectomy, followed for a median of 326 days postoperatively. Lack of PA cure was observed in 16% of consecutive patients, and in 22 patients with lateralized PA on both baseline and cosyntropin-stimulated AVS. Among patients with residual PA postoperatively, 73% had multiple CYP11B2 positive areas within the resected adrenal tissue (versus 23% in those cured), wherein CACNA1D mutations were most prevalent (63% versus 33% in those cured). In adjusted regression models, independent predictors of postoperative residual PA included Black versus White race (odds ratio, 5.10 [95% CI, 1.45-17.86]), AVS lateralization only at baseline (odds ratio, 8.93 [95% CI 3.00-26.32] versus both at baseline and after cosyntropin stimulation), and CT-AVS disagreement (odds ratio, 2.75 [95% CI, 1.20-6.31]). CONCLUSIONS: Multifocal, asymmetrical bilateral PA is relatively common, and it cannot be excluded by robust AVS lateralization. Long-term postoperative monitoring should be routinely pursued, to identify residual PA and afford timely initiation of targeted medical therapy.

High-Dose Rate Brachytherapy Combined with PD-1 Blockade as a Treatment for Metastatic Adrenocortical Carcinoma - A Single Center Case Series.

The response rate of advanced adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) to standard chemotherapy with mitotane and etoposide/doxorubicin/cisplatin (EDP-M) is unsatisfactory, and benefit is frequently short lived. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (CPI) have been examined in patient's refractory to EDP-M, but objective response rates are only approximately 15%. High-dose rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT) is a catheter-based internal radiotherapy and expected to favorably combine with immunotherapies. Here we describe three cases of patients with advanced ACC who were treated with HDR-BT and the CPI pembrolizumab. None of the tumors were positive for established response markers to CPI. All patients were female, had progressed on EDP-M and received external beam radiation therapy for metastatic ACC. Pembrolizumab was initiated 7 or 23 months after brachytherapy in two cases and prior to brachytherapy in one case. Best response of lesions treated with brachytherapy was complete (n=2) or partial response (n=1) that was ongoing at last follow up after 23, 45 and 4 months, respectively. Considering all sites of tumor, response was complete and partial remission in the two patients with brachytherapy prior to pembrolizumab. The third patient developed progressive disease with severe Cushing's syndrome and died due to COVID-19. Immune-related adverse events of colitis (grade 3), gastroduodenitis (grade 3), pneumonitis (grade 2) and thyroiditis (grade 1) occurred in the two patients with systemic response. HDR-BT controlled metastases locally. Sequential combination with CPI therapy may enhance an abscopal antitumoral effect in non-irradiated metastases in ACC. Systematic studies are required to confirm this preliminary experience and to understand underlying mechanisms.

Long-Term Follow-Up of Patients With Elevated Aldosterone-to-Renin Ratio but Negative Confirmatory Test: The Progression of Primary Aldosteronism Phenotypes.

BACKGROUND: About 10% of patients with arterial hypertension have a positive screening test for primary aldosteronism (PA) and 50% to 70% of them have a negative confirmatory test: the appropriate follow-up of these patients is currently unknown. We investigated the incidence of PA in patients with previous negative confirmatory testing, after at least a 2-year follow-up. METHODS: One hundred eighty-four patients with a previously elevated aldosterone-to-renin ratio followed by a negative confirmatory test were recruited in 2 hypertension centers (Torino and Munich). We repeated the screening test for PA and, if positive, the confirmatory test (seated saline infusion test or captopril challenge test). Primary end point of the study was the incidence of newly diagnosed overt PA, as defined by a positive confirmatory test. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up of 5 years, 20% of patients developed overt PA. When subtype diagnosis was offered systematically, one-third of patients displayed unilateral PA. Patients who developed PA showed worsening of blood pressure control and a higher rate of cardiac organ damage, despite similar implementation of antihypertensive therapy, compared with patients without PA. A mild progression of autonomous aldosterone secretion was evident even in patients without confirmed PA but with relatively stable control of blood pressure levels over time. CONCLUSIONS: About one-fifth of patients with a negative confirmatory test develop overt PA over time. A clinical follow-up of patients with a negative confirmatory test is advisable, along with the repetition of PA investigation, primarily in patients with worsening of blood pressure control.

Salt and Aldosterone - Reciprocal and Combined Effects in Preclinical Models and Humans.

Primary aldosteronism is an endocrine disorder caused by excessive production of aldosterone by the adrenal glands, and is recognized as the most important cause of endocrine hypertension. With specific therapy, this type of hypertension is potentially curable. In the general population, high salt intake increases the risk for cardiovascular diseases like stroke. In populations with aldosterone excess, observational and experimental data suggest that aldosterone-induced organ damage requires a combination of high dietary salt intake and high plasma aldosterone, i.e., plasma aldosterone levels inappropriately high for salt status. Therefore, understanding the relationship between plasma aldosterone levels and dietary salt intake and the nature of their combined effects is crucial for developing effective prevention and treatment strategies. In this review, we present an update on findings about primary aldosteronism and salt intake and the underlying mechanisms governing their interaction.

Asymmetric Adrenals: Sexual Dimorphism of Adrenal Tumors.

CONTEXT: Sexual dimorphism has direct consequences on the incidence and survival of cancer. Early and accurate diagnosis is crucial to improve prognosis. OBJECTIVE: This work aimed to characterized the influence of sex and adrenal asymmetry on the emergence of adrenal tumors. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter, observational study involving 8037 patients with adrenal tumors, including adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC), aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA), cortisol-secreting adrenocortical adenomas (CSAs), non-aldosterone-producing adrenal cortical adenoma (NAPACA), pheochromocytoma (PCC), and neuroblastoma (NB), and investigated tumor lateralization according to sex. Human adrenal tissues (n = 20) were analyzed with a multiomics approach that allows determination of gene expression, catecholamine, and steroid contents in a single sample. In addition, we performed a literature review of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging-based studies examining adrenal gland size. RESULTS: ACC (n = 1858); CSA (n = 68), NAPACA (n = 2174), and PCC (n = 1824) were more common in females than in males (female-to-male ratio: 1.1:1-3.8:1), whereas NBs (n = 2320) and APAs (n = 228) were less prevalent in females (0.8:1). ACC, APA, CSA, NAPACA, and NB occurred more frequently in the left than in the right adrenal (left-to-right ratio: 1.1:1-1.8:1), whereas PCC arose more often in the right than in the left adrenal (0.8:1). In both sexes, the left adrenal was larger than the right adrenal; females have smaller adrenals than males. CONCLUSION: Adrenal asymmetry in both sexes may be related to the pathogenesis of adrenal tumors and should be considered during the diagnosis of these tumors.

Hypogonadism is frequent in very old men with multimorbidity and is associated with anemia and sarcopenia.

BACKGROUND: Clinical data regarding hypogonadism in very old men with multimorbidity are rare. Hypogonadism can contribute to osteoporosis, anemia and sarcopenia and is therefore a relevant problem for geriatric patients. METHODS: A total of 167 men aged 65-96 years (mean 81 ± 7 years) admitted to an acute geriatric ward were included in a cross-sectional study. Body composition derived from dual-energy X­ray absorptiometry, bone mineral density, handgrip strength, multimorbidity, polypharmacy and laboratory values were obtained from the routine electronic clinical patient file. RESULTS: Hypogonadism was present in 62% (n = 104) of the study participants, of whom 83% showed clinical manifestation of hypogonadism (hypogonadism in combination with anemia, sarcopenia and/or low T­score). The subgroups showed a distribution of 52% primary and 48% secondary hypogonadism. Compared to the eugonadal patients, hypogonadal patients had reduced handgrip strength (p = 0.031) and lower hemoglobin levels (p = 0.043), even after adjustment for age, body mass index and glomerular filtration rate. CONCLUSION: Hypogonadism is common in geriatric patients. If chronic anemia, sarcopenia, or osteoporosis are diagnosed, testosterone levels should be determined in geriatric settings.

Unawareness of Primary Aldosteronism as a Common Cause of Hypokalemia - Insights from the IPAHK+ Trial (Incidence of Primary Aldosteronism in Patients with Hypokalemia).

Hypokalemia plays an important role in the diagnosis and management of primary aldosteronism (PA). While the hypokalemic variant of the disease accounts for about one third of all cases, little is known about the incidence of PA in hypokalemic populations. The IPAHK+ study is an epidemiological, cross-sectional trial to provide evidence on the incidence of PA in hypokalemic patients from a university hospital outpatient population. Recruitment of outpatients with hypokalemia≤3 mmol/l is carried out on a continuous referral-basis through an automated data delivery system. Up to an interim data closure, 66 patients underwent the study protocol. The mean age of the participants was 52.9±1.5 years with an equal sex ratio of 1:1 women to men, a mean potassium value of 2.78±0.31 mmol/l [1.8;3.0] and a prevalence of arterial hypertension of 72.7%. PA was diagnosed in 46.6% of all participants, all of whom had a history of hypertension. Incidence of PA increased continuously with decreasing potassium levels with proportions of 26.7%, 50% and 57.1% in the subgroups of 3.0 mmol/l (n=15), 2.8-2.9 mmol/l (n=22) and≤2.7 mmol/l (n=21), respectively. Prior to testing, 59.1% of all patients presented at least with one plausible other cause of hypokalemia. The incidence of PA in the investigated outpatient population was more than 4 out of 10 and inversely correlated with baseline potassium levels. Moderate or severe hypokalemia, regardless of its cause, should therefore prompt evaluation for PA in hypertensive individuals. Normotensive hypokalemic PA was not observed in this cohort.