The Association between a 24-Hour Blood Pressure Pattern and Circadian Change in Plasma Aldosterone Concentration for Patients with Aldosterone-Producing Adenoma

The absence of nocturnal blood pressure (BP) decline is associated with hypertensive complications. Data regarding circadian BP patterns in patients with aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) are limited and equivocal. We evaluated the circadian BP profile in patients with APA and its relationship with the circadian aldosterone rhythm. BP in patients with APA and in those with essential hypertension (EH) were assessed through in-hospital 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Over a 24-h in-hospital period, plasma aldosterone levels taken at midnight, 0400, 0800, 1200, 1600, and 2000 h were measured. To evaluate a correlation between BP and hormone rhythm, we included 27 patients with APA (APA group) and 27 patients with EH (EH group). Both groups had similar age, sex ratio, body mass index, duration of hypertension, family history of hypertension, and lipid profiles. The day-night BP differences in both patient groups were similar, whether expressed as absolute values or percentages. The proportions of patients with dipping BP profiles were also comparable (APA group, 5 of 27; EH group, 7 of 27; χ2 = 0.429; P = 0.513). At each time point, APA group plasma aldosterone concentrations (PACs) were higher than those of the EH group. A circadian change in relation to PAC was observed in both groups. A correlation between PAC and BP was statistically nonsignificant in most study patients in either group. Our data indicated that the circadian BP pattern was not associated with a change in PAC levels in patients with APA.

Nocturnal polyuria: Literature review of definition, pathophysiology, investigations and treatment

Nocturnal polyuria (NP) is characterised by increased urine production overnight in comparison to daytime. It has significant adverse events in adults including reduced quality of life, increased risk of falls and increased mortality. Although NP can be a manifestation of other significant conditions like heart failure and sleep apnoea, there are lots of unanswered questions about NP. What is the underlying pathophysiology? Is NP a physiological manifestation of ageing? Is the circadian change of vasopressin release the primary pathology? Or is it a secondary phenomenon to a low diurnal production of urine? Is the primary pathology at the kidney level or is there another humoral, cardiac, or endovascular element? In this article, we summarise the available English-language literature on the subject of NP, including its epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment. Level of evidence: Not applicable for this multicentre audit.

Abstract 13027: Risk of Sudden Cardiac Arrest According to the Time of STEMI Occurrence: the e-MUST Study

Introduction: STEMI mortality decreased drastically during the last decades, and out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) has become its main mode of death. The risk of out-of-hospital SCA according to the timing of STEMI occurrence has not been assessed. Hypothesis: The risk of SCA, prior to hospital admission, differs according to the timing of STEMI occurrence. Methods: Data were taken from a prospective pre-hospital study (e-MUST study) on all STEMI patients managed by emergency medical services in Paris and its suburbs between January 2006 and December 2010. In this area, emergency calls are routed to the closest dispatch center and regulated by physicians who send, in the field, an ambulance with a physician on board in case of suspected acute myocardial infarction. Pre-hospital EKGs are obtained for all patients and those presenting STEMI are included in the study. We assessed the rate of SCA, prior to hospital admission, according to the timing of STEMI occurrence (4 hours-time intervals starting at midnight). Results: Among the 8,112 STEMI patients enrolled (mean age (SD) 61.6 (14.3) years, 78% males), 452 patients (5.6%) developed out-of-hospital SCA. We observed significant circadian change in the rate of SCA per STEMI, with a progressive increase between 4am and 8pm, followed by a decrease between 8pm and 4am (P=0.0009). The peak rate of SCA per STEMI occurred in the 4pm-8pm time interval (7.7%), while the lowest rate was seen between 4am and 8am (4.2%) (Figure). Conclusions: The risk of STEMI-related SCA is almost 2-fold higher in STEMI occurring in the late afternoon hours. A better understanding of patients’ characteristics, circumstances of occurrence, and pre-hospital care is needed to eventually reduce the risk of SCA promptly after STEMI diagnosis in the field.