Association of Aldosterone, Renin, and Aldosterone to Renin Ratio with Metabolic Profile in Primary Aldosteronism

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the glycometabolism, fat mass, and lean mass in primary aldosteronism (PA) during disease progression.

Patients and methods: Patients diagnosed with PA and healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled. A flash glucose monitoring system (FGMS) and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) were used to measure glucose variability and glucose target rate along with fat mass and lean mass. Comparative analysis of FGMS- or DEXA-derived parameters along with correlation analyses between these parameters and PA progression were performed.

Results: Increased glucose variability and poor glucose target rate, along with an increased proportion of truncal fat mass, and decreased proportion of appendicular lean mass, were identified in PA group compared to those in HCs. Plasma aldosterone concentration was positively correlated with glucose variability and poor glucose target rate. Plasma renin concentration was positively correlated with the proportion of truncal fat mass and lean mass, and negatively correlated with the proportion of appendicular fat mass. Aldosterone-to-renin ratio was negatively correlated with the proportion of truncal fat mass and lean mass, and positively correlated with the proportion of appendicular fat mass.

Conclusion: Patients with PA presented significant differences in glycometabolism, fat mass, and lean mass compared with HCs, and these alterations correlated with PA progression.

Keywords: ARR; aldosterone; correlation analysis; fat mass; glucose variability; lean mass; renin.