A groundbreaking type of CT scan has been developed that can identify tiny nodules in a hormone gland, offering a potential cure for some cases of high blood pressure.
This discovery, led by researchers from Queen Mary University of London and other institutions, could transform the way doctors diagnose and treat hypertension caused by overproduction of the hormone aldosterone.
High blood pressure, or hypertension, affects millions worldwide and is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. In about 5% of people with high blood pressure, the condition is caused by benign nodules in the adrenal glands.
These nodules secrete excessive amounts of aldosterone, a hormone that raises blood pressure by causing the body to retain salt and water. Until now, identifying these nodules has been a challenge for doctors.
For the past 60 years, detecting aldosterone-producing nodules required a catheter test. This invasive procedure involves threading a tube into the veins near the adrenal glands to measure hormone levels.
However, this test is available only in a few specialized hospitals, is technically difficult, and often fails to give clear results. As a result, the majority of these nodules remain undiagnosed, and patients continue to rely on lifelong medication to control their blood pressure.
The new CT scan offers a simpler, faster, and more effective solution. Researchers tested it on 128 patients with hypertension linked to elevated aldosterone levels.
The scan involves injecting a short-acting dose of metomidate, a radioactive dye that binds specifically to the aldosterone-producing nodule. When scanned, the affected nodule lights up, making it easy to identify as the source of the problem.
The study found that in two-thirds of the patients, aldosterone overproduction came from a single benign nodule in one of the adrenal glands. These nodules could be surgically removed, curing the hypertension in many cases.
The new scan proved to be as accurate as the traditional catheter test but had several advantages: it was quick, painless, and successfully identified the nodule in every patient tested.
The researchers also combined the CT scan results with a urine test to determine which patients would benefit most from surgery.
This combination identified 18 out of 24 patients who achieved normal blood pressure without needing any medication after the procedure. By contrast, the catheter test could not reliably predict which patients would be completely cured.
One of the key findings of the study is that these nodules are often too small to detect on regular CT scans.
However, with the help of the radioactive dye, they become visible for a short time, revealing their role as the underlying cause of high blood pressure. The researchers estimate that 99% of these nodules currently go undiagnosed due to the limitations of existing tests.
This breakthrough has the potential to significantly reduce the number of people suffering from high blood pressure and its complications. By making this new scan and urine test widely available in hospitals, many patients could avoid years of medication and the associated risks of uncontrolled hypertension.
The researchers believe that this approach could save lives by identifying patients who would benefit from surgery to remove the nodules. However, they emphasize that further research is needed to confirm the effectiveness of the new scan in larger populations.
This discovery offers hope for millions of people struggling with high blood pressure. If widely implemented, it could revolutionize the treatment of hypertension caused by aldosterone-secreting nodules and improve the quality of life for many patients.
The study was conducted by Professor Morris Brown and his team and published in Nature Medicine.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies that early time-restricted eating could help improve blood pressure, and natural coconut sugar could help reduce blood pressure and artery stiffness.
For more health information, please see recent studies about added sugar in your diet linked to higher blood pressure, and results showing vitamin D could improve blood pressure in people with diabetes.
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