Conn`s Syndrome
Primary aldosteronism (PA; synonym: Conn’s syndrome) is characterized by autonomous aldosterone excess with subsequent suppression of renin levels. The main causes of primary aldosteronism accounting for >95% of cases are aldosterone producing adenoma (APA) and idiopathic primary aldosteronism (IHA). The distinction between these 2 entities is clinically crucial. APA is a curable form of hypertension, and unilateral adrenalectomy results in correction of hypokalemia and blood pressure normalisation in the majority of patients.
Tumor effluents collected directly from venous plasma selectively during routine adrenal venous sampling (AVS) in APA gives high sensitivity and low background. Based on AVS cortisol measurements adrenal plasma might contain tumor markers in concentrations up to 100 fold compared to peripheral vein plasma.
In almost all clinical proteomics experiments it is extremely difficult to unravel proteome differences correlated with a disease. The normal heterogeneity of plasma of different individuals, due to genetic and environmental reasons, is far more pronounced than the differences caused by a disease.
During this specific disease, the accessible venous blood from the non-affected contralateral adrenal can be used as the ideal ‘control’ sample.
In the present project, for the first time, a true individualized proteomics study can be done, using plasma samples from single individuals and at identical environmental conditions.
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