High blood pressure is a serious health concern that can lead to conditions like heart disease and stroke.
It’s often compared to overfilling a balloon with air—if the pressure gets too high, the risk of damage increases.
For many people, the cause of their high blood pressure remains unknown, so they rely on lifelong medication to manage it.
But now, a breakthrough study by doctors from Queen Mary University of London, Barts Hospital, and Cambridge University Hospital offers new hope.
Using a specialized CT scan, researchers found tiny lumps in a gland that produces hormones, which were the hidden cause of high blood pressure in some patients. By removing these lumps, they successfully cured high blood pressure in certain cases.
These hormone-producing lumps were discovered in about 1 out of 20 people with high blood pressure, providing a possible solution to a condition that has puzzled doctors for years.
For over 60 years, medical professionals struggled to detect these hormone-producing lumps accurately. The only method available was a complex and often inaccurate test that very few hospitals could perform.
But with this new CT scan, combined with a simple urine test, doctors can now identify patients who might be able to stop taking blood pressure medications after treatment.
The study scanned 128 patients, all of whom had high blood pressure linked to an excess of a hormone called aldosterone.
The scan revealed that in about two-thirds of these patients, the hormone was being produced by a benign lump in one of the adrenal glands. When removed, these lumps eliminated the need for blood pressure medication.
This new scanning technique uses a dye called metomidate, which binds specifically to the cells in the lump producing aldosterone. The dye contains a safe level of radioactivity, allowing the scan to pinpoint the lump.
The technique is fast, painless, and worked effectively for every patient in the study. Unlike previous tests, it could clearly show which patients would benefit from having their adrenal gland lump removed.
Professor Morris Brown, one of the study’s lead researchers, explained that these lumps are so small they’re usually missed by regular scans.
With this advanced CT scan, however, the lumps “glow” for a few minutes, making it easier for doctors to spot them and potentially cure high blood pressure.
This discovery is particularly exciting because 99% of cases with these hormone-producing lumps went undiagnosed before this technique was available.
Professor William Drake, another lead researcher, emphasized that this breakthrough was the result of years of dedicated work by the research team, which continued even during the COVID-19 pandemic. He expressed optimism for further research that could help even more people with high blood pressure.
This study also builds on earlier research by the same group, which found that in 5% to 10% of people with high blood pressure, a genetic mutation in the adrenal glands leads to the overproduction of aldosterone.
This hormone causes the body to hold on to more salt, which raises blood pressure. People with high levels of aldosterone often don’t respond well to regular blood pressure medications and face a greater risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Published in Nature Medicine, this study solves a decades-old puzzle and opens the door to life-changing treatments for people with high blood pressure caused by these hidden hormone-producing lumps.
This innovation offers a new chance at a healthier, medication-free life for many people with hypertension, marking a significant step forward in cardiovascular health.
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