Diagnostic Value of I-131 NP-59 SPECTCT Scintigraphy in Patients with Subclinical or Atypical Features of Primary Aldosteronism

Abstract EN

Accumulating evidence has shown the adverse effect of long-term hyperaldosteronism on cardiovascular morbidity that is independent of blood pressure.

However, the diagnosis of primary aldosteronism (PA) remains a challenge for patients who present with subtle or atypical features or have chronic kidney disease (CKD).

SPECT/CT has proven valuable in the diagnosis of a number of conditions.

The aim of this study was to determine the usefulness of I-131 NP-59 SPECT/CT in patients with atypical presentations of PA and in those with CKD.

The records of 15 patients with PA were retrospectively analyzed.

NP-59 SPECT/CT was able to identify adrenal lesion(s) in CKD patients with suspected PA.

Patients using NP-59 SPECT/CT imaging, compared with those not performing this procedure, significantly featured nearly normal serum potassium levels, normal aldosterone-renin ratio, and smaller adrenal size on CT and pathological examination and tended to feature stage 1 hypertension and non-suppressed plasma renin activity.

These findings show that noninvasive NP-59 SPECT/CT is a useful tool for diagnosis in patients with subclinical or atypical features of PA and those with CKD.