The key to successful treatment of primary aldosteronism: Get it early

A major international study has found that early treatment of primary aldosteronism (PA) offers the best chance of overcoming this often undetected cause of high blood pressure. Conducted with the help of 48 researchers and nearly 1,300 patients across 27 centers on four continents, the study revealed that targeted medical therapy can bring lasting health benefits.

Published in the journal Hypertension, the work, titled Primary Aldosteronism Medical Treatment Outcomes (PAMO) beyond 12 months, highlights the importance of early detection and proper dosing when it comes to successfully managing PA. After a median follow-up of around three years, 82.4% of patients experienced either complete or partial biochemical improvement, while 84.5% achieved either complete or partial clinical improvement.

Lead author Professor Jun Yang and co-investigator Dr. Renata Libianto noted that patients diagnosed early, before hypertension and organ damage become established, tend to respond better to treatment. Better clinical outcomes were linked to a shorter history of hypertension and the absence of organ damage at the start of treatment.

Adequate spironolactone dosing was associated with improved biochemical response, which in turn is tied to better heart health over the long term. The research underscores the critical role of early diagnosis and personalized treatment in safeguarding the heart and kidney health of those affected by primary aldosteronism.