Hemodynamic Characteristics of Primary Aldosteronism

Abstract As compared with 30 matched patients with essential hypertension, 16 with primary aldosteronism had a higher heart rate (p<0.02), cardiac index (p<0.01) and mean rate of left ventricular ejection (p<0.025). A clinically evident hyperkinetic circulatory state was more frequent in primary aldosteronism (six of 16) than in essential hypertension (four of 30). Cardiac index correlated inversely with diastolic pressure in primary aldosteronism (r = -0.661, p<0.01). Better surgical results were obtained in patients who had the higher cardiac output before operation. Plasma volume was 103 per cent of normal ± 2.7 (S.E.) in primary aldosteronism, 111 per cent ± 2.6 in 10 patients with hypervolemic hypertension, and 86 per cent ± 2.1 in 20 with hypovolemic hypertension. In both the hypovolemic group and primary aldosteronism, plasma volume correlated inversely with peripheral resistance (r = -0.531, p<0.05 and r = -0.610, p<0.02, respectively), so that for any level of resistance, plasma volume was higher...