Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Adrenal venous sampling (AVS) is considered the gold standard for differentiating an aldosterone- producing adenoma (aPA) from bilateral adrenal hyperplasia (BAH).

Objective: The aim of this study is to present our experience with this method in our hospital.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 105 patients who underwent the AVS protocol at our centre between 2015 and 2022 for PA.

Results: AVS was performed 115 times in 105 patients, and in 20 patients AVS was performed 2 times. AVS was successful in 86 patients (82%). Among them, 66 patients were female (63%) and median age of all our patients was 53 years (20-75). In 62 patients (65%), the potassium level was lower than 3.6 mmol/l. The main reason for work-up was hypokalaemia in 37 patients (35%). AVS result and CT scan were compatible in 59 patients (60%). According to AVS, APA was diagnosed in 58 (55%) patients, BAH in 37 (35%) patients and in 10 (10%) patients the diagnosis was inocclusive. Surgery was performed in 46 (44%) patients and 58 (56%) patients were treated with medication. Complete biochemical remission was seen in 20 (84%) patients and partial biochemical remission in 2 (8%) patients. 2 (8%) patients had subclinical Cushing’s syndrome and did not show biochemical remission. Complete clinical remission was seen in 13 (38%) patients, partial clinical remission in 18 (53%) and 3 (9%) patients had no clinical remission. AVS was more successful in the last 4 years than in the years before (83% vs. 69%).

Conclusion: Our results show a high rate of successfully performed AVS. Prolonged hypertension could be one of the reasons for partial biochemical remission.