RecruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Diagnosing Variable Primary Aldosteronism.

This study aims to understand Primary Aldosteronism (PA), a condition where the body makes too much of a hormone called aldosterone, which can cause high blood pressure. Sometimes, it's hard to tell if someone has PA because aldosterone levels can change. Researchers want to see if measuring aldosterone in your pee over a full 24 hours helps find more people with PA. They also want to check if the amount of aldosterone changes a lot throughout the day in people who already have or are suspected of having PA. By looking at these levels more closely, the study hopes to improve how PA is diagnosed, potentially helping people get the right treatment sooner for their high blood pressure.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

Queen Mary University of London

Enrolment target

100

Start

24 Feb 2023

Estimated completion

24 Feb 2026

Primary Aldosteronism High Blood Pressure

What is this study about?

This study is called 'Diagnosing Variable Primary Aldosteronism'. It's looking into a condition called Primary Aldosteronism (that's PA for short), where your body makes too much of a hormone called aldosterone. This extra aldosterone can lead to high blood pressure, which, if not treated, can cause serious health problems over time.

Sometimes, it's tricky to diagnose PA because the amount of aldosterone in your body can go up and down. This study wants to find out if taking measurements of aldosterone over a whole day, both from your pee and several blood tests, can give a clearer picture. They are particularly interested to see if aldosterone levels change a lot throughout the day in people who might have PA, or those who have already been diagnosed.

The main idea is to see if these more detailed measurements can help doctors find more people with PA, or understand the condition better in those who have it. This could lead to better ways of diagnosing PA in the future, meaning people might get the right treatment for their high blood pressure sooner.

Key takeaways

This study investigates causes of high blood pressure.
It focuses on a hormone called aldosterone and how its levels change.
Researchers want to improve how Primary Aldosteronism is diagnosed.
Participation involves collecting urine and having blood tests.
Your involvement helps medical research, even if there's no direct benefit to you.

Who may be eligible?

You might be able to join this study if your doctor thinks you might have Primary Aldosteronism (a condition causing high blood pressure) but you haven't had a clear diagnosis yet. This could be because certain blood tests showed low levels of renin (another hormone) or your sodium or potassium levels were a bit unusual.

You could also be eligible if you've already been diagnosed with PA, but your previous aldosterone levels were sometimes not high enough to suggest you definitely had it. Or if your aldosterone levels have seemed to change a lot when measured at different times. You also need to be willing to give your permission to be part of the study.

However, you can't join if you can't stop taking certain heart or blood pressure medicines called beta-blockers for two weeks. Also, if you are receiving end-of-life care, this study would not be suitable for you. This study is open to both men and women, aged 18 or older.

Quick self-check

Do you have high blood pressure?
Has your doctor suspected you might have Primary Aldosteronism?
Are you able to pause specific heart/blood pressure medicines (beta-blockers) for two weeks if you take them?
Are you 18 years old or older?

This is a guide only — the research team will confirm whether you can take part.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part, you will need to collect all your pee over a 24-hour period. You will also have several blood tests taken throughout a single day. These tests will help the researchers understand how your aldosterone levels change, if at all, during different times of the day. The study duration for each participant is expected to be quite short, likely just one day of blood tests plus the 24-hour urine collection period, with no long-term follow-up required.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study could help doctors better understand and diagnose Primary Aldosteronism, eventually leading to better care for people with high blood pressure caused by this condition. The main risks involve the discomfort of having regular blood tests throughout the day and the inconvenience of collecting your urine for 24 hours. There are no known direct medical benefits to you personally from taking part, but your involvement will contribute valuable information to medical science. You are free to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your medical care.

Locations (1)

Queen Mary University of London
London, United Kingdom· Recruiting

Common questions

What is Primary Aldosteronism (PA)?

PA is a condition where your body makes too much of a hormone called aldosterone, which can cause high blood pressure.

Why is this study important?

It could help doctors find better ways to diagnose PA, meaning people might get the right treatment for their high blood pressure sooner.

What does 'variable aldosterone production' mean?

It means the amount of aldosterone your body makes can go up and down throughout the day or at different times.

Will taking part benefit my health directly?

There are no direct personal health benefits, but your participation helps improve understanding of PA for future patients.

Can I stop participating if I change my mind?

Yes, you can leave the study at any time without it affecting your medical care.

How to find out more

Yun Ni Lee

y.n.lee@qmul.ac.uk +442078827275 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.