Добавил:
kiopkiopkiop18@yandex.ru t.me/Prokururor I Вовсе не секретарь, но почту проверяю Опубликованный материал нарушает ваши авторские права? Сообщите нам.
Вуз: Предмет: Файл:

Ординатура / Хирургия / Библиотека им академика М.И. Перельмана / Книга_623_Библиотеки_им_академика_М_И_Перельмана

.pdf
Скачиваний:
0
Добавлен:
30.08.2026
Размер:
65 Мб
Скачать
The adrenal glands 415
https://t.me/medicina_free
Decreased function
Hypoadrenalism is most commonly a sequel of prolonged corticosteroid therapy, in which endogenous steroid production is suppressed, followed by abrupt steroid withdrawal. It may also be due to the following:
Congenital adrenal hypoplasia.
Autoimmune destruction: Addison’s disease.
Adrenal infarction: a rare consequence of stress or sepsis (notably, meningococcal sepsis).
Bilateral adrenalectomy: intentionally (to treat
• Cushing’s syndrome) or secondary to bilateral nephrectomy.
Adrenal infiltration by secondary tumours from
• primaries in bronchus and breast.
Bilateral tuberculosis of the adrenals.
1
Enzyme disorders
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia, the collective description for the adrenal hyperplasias resulting from increased ACTH secretion, may result from cer­tain enzyme disorders. ACTH is produced in excess because glucocorticoids, the end point in the pathway of steroid hormone synthesis, are not produced as a result of one of many possible enzyme deficiencies. Instead, all the substrate synthesized is turned into an intermediate hormone, such as an androgen.
Cushing’s syndrome
Cushing’s syndrome2 is produced by increased circulat­ing corticosteroids. Excepting therapeutic exogenous steroid administration, the majority of cases result from a pituitary adenoma producing ACTH, resulting in hyperplasia of the adrenal cortex (the disease that Cushing first described); 10 to 20% are due to benign or malignant adrenocortical tumours and another 10 to 15% are due to ectopic ACTH production by a dis­tant tumour, such as carcinoma of the bronchus. Cushing’s syndrome due to bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia is very rare.
1
omas Addison (1773–1860), Physician, Guy’s Hospital,
London.
2
Harvey Cushing (1869–1939), Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. He was one of the founders of neurosurgery.
Clinical features
The syndrome usually affects young adults (occasion­ally, children), women more often than men. The nature and relative severity of symptoms depend on the degree and duration of hypercortisolism; when the latter is severe, the appearance is characteristic: adiposity with central distribution, abdominal striae, a red moon face and diabetes. There may be osteopo­rosis, leading to vertebral collapse, hypertension, with increased cardiovascular risk, and thromboembolic events. Associated androgenic corticoid oversecretion occurs only in females with adrenal cancer or with
driven stimulation (the adrenal gland is the
ACTH­major source of androgen production in females whereas it is the testes in males) and can produce var­ying degrees of hirsutism, acne and oligomenorrhea. Most adrenal adenomas secrete only glucocorticoids.
Special investigations
These may be thought of as investigations to confirm the diagnosis, and investigations to identify the cause. The diagnosis is usually established when at least two different first line tests are abnormal:
Urinary 24- h cortisol level: a level above three times the upper limit of normal is considered positive.
Late night salivary cortisol level: the normal evening
nadir is lost in patients with Cushing’s syndrome. This test in non­formed on two or more separate occasions to increase accuracy (the levels of cortisol in Cushing’s may be variable).
Late night serum cortisol: similar principle to the
salivary cortisol test, but less convenient; hence it is not used routinely.
Dexamethasone suppression test (DST), in which the steroid dexamethasone is administered. The overnight low- dose DST (1 mg dexamethasone orally between 11 pm and midnight followed by serum cortisol measurement at 8 am the next morning) is commonly used as a screening test to differentiate patients who have Cushing’s syn­drome from those that do not. As an alternative test, or when the overnight test is equivocal, a two­day low- dose DST can be performed (total of 4mg dexamethasone).
Careful interpretation of the tests is required
and physiological causes of hypercortisolism may need to be excluded (e.g. obesity, pregnancy, and
invasive and can easily be per-
416 The adrenal glands
https://t.me/medicina_free
physical or psychological stress). After establish­ing the presence of hypercortisolism, further investigations can help determine the cause:
Plasma ACTH is usually performed on two sepa-
rate days. ACTH is raised in the presence of ectopic or pituitary ACTH­suppressed in ACTH­can be normal in cyclic or mild hypercortisolism).
Abdominal computed tomography (CT) and magnetic
resonance (MR) scans are the best imaging modalities for localization of a tumour in the adrenal gland. Pituitary MR can also detect corticotroph adenomas.
driven disease; its secretion is
independent disease (ACTH
Treatment
ACTH- independent Cushing’s syndrome
In cases of ACTH- independent Cushing’s syndrome due to bilateral adrenal hyperplasia, bilateral adre­nalectomy is performed and the patient placed on glucocorticoid replacement. Removal of the affected adrenal gland is carried out in cases of adenoma or carcinoma. Prolonged hypercorticolism will result in suppression of the contralateral adrenal which may necessitate glucocorticoid replacement, often for sev­eral months post- surgery.
ACTH- dependent Cushing’s disease
Cases due to basophil adenoma of the pituitary (the disease Cushing described) can be treated with trans­sphenoidal adenomectomy, when a clear adenoma can be identified at surgery, or with subtotal resection of the anterior pituitary (anterior hypophysectomy). Medical therapy with adrenal enzyme inhibitors, pituitary irradiation and bilateral adrenalectomy are further treatment options, especially when surgery is unsuccessful or contra-
indicated.
Primary hyperaldostero­nism (Conn’s syndrome)
Once considered to be rare, it is now acknowledged that the prevalence of Conn’s syndrome and the condition often underdiagnosed. The aetiology
3
Jerome Conn (1907–1994), Physician, University of
Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
3
is much higher
most commonly involves an aldosterone- secreting adenoma or bilateral hyperplasia of the adrenal cortex. Unilateral adrenal hyperplasia and familial hyperaldo­steronism are relatively rare. Characteristically, there is unexplained hypokalaemia (which may result in episodes of muscle weakness or paralysis), metabolic alkalosis and hypertension. However, most patients are normokalaemic. Drug­and hypertension presenting at a young age should raise suspicion of primary aldosteronism.
The condition is interesting because aldosterone­producing adenomas represent a curable cause of hypertension.
resistant or severe hypertension
Special investigations
Serum electrolytes: hypernatraemia and hypo-
ka laemia.
Plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) and
plasma renin concentration (PRC) or activity (PRA): High PAC (typically, >555 pmol/L) and
undetectable PRC establish the diagnosis, especially in the presence of spontaneous hypokalaemia. Otherwise, aldosterone suppression testing is required (e.g. with administration of intravenous sodium chloride and measurement of PAC). Interfering drugs, such as mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists and angiotensin- converting enzyme inhibitors, may have to be discontinued.
Once the diagnosis of Conn’s syndrome is estab­lished, it is important to determine whether this is due to a unilateral adrenal adenoma or bilateral hyperplasia. Most commonly, this involves:
Abdominal CT: this may show a solitary unilateral
adenoma or bilateral adrenal thickening or micronodules.
Selective adrenal vein sampling: this can confirm
the presence of unilateral disease and lateralize the side of the tumour. It is particularly important when surgery is considered and in cases where the adenoma is less than 1cm (when it may be missed by CT) or both adrenals are abnormal (e.g. bilat­eral adrenal nodularity but unilateral source of excess aldosterone). A PAC/cortisol ratio between abnormal and normal side of >4:1 often indicates unilateral excess aldosterone production (cortisol corrected aldosterone ratio).
Metomidate positron emission tomography (PET)
CT: increased tracer avidity at the site of an adrenal nodule may help lateralize the disease. Although
The adrenal glands 417
https://t.me/medicina_free
not fully established in clinical practice, this investi­gation may be particularly helpful in cases of incon­clusive adrenal vein sampling results, especially in the presence of bilateral adrenal nodularity.
Treatment
Laparoscopic adrenalectomy has become the stand­ard procedure for unilateral lesions; it has the advan­tage of lower morbidity and a shorter hospital stay than the traditional open procedure. Medical treatment is the usual standard of care for bilateral
BIOSYNTHESIS OF ADRENOCORTICAL HORMONES
ACTH
Cholesterol
Cholesterol desmolase
Pregnenolone
+
17α-hydroxylase
17-Hydroxypregnenolone
adrenal hyperplasia, with mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists being the first line.
The adrenogenital syndromes (Figure42.1)
These rare syndromes result from the hypersecretion of adrenocortical androgens, due either to a defect in the enzyme pathway of steroid production,
17,20-lyase
Dehydroepiandrosterone
3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase
Progesterone
21β-hydroxylase
11-Deoxycorticosterone (DOC)
11β-hydroxylase
Corticosterone
aldosterone synthase
Aldosterone
Mineralocorticoids Glucocorticoids Androgens
17α-hydroxylase
+
Angiotensin II
Figure42.1 Adrenocortical steroid synthesis
3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase
17-Hydroxyprogesterone
21β-hydroxylase
11-Deoxycortisol
11β-hydroxylase
Cortisol
17,20-lyase
3β-hydroxysteroid
dehydrogenase
Androstenedione
Testosterone
17β-estradiol
418 The adrenal glands
https://t.me/medicina_free
commonly 21- hydroxylase deficiency (the congenital form), or to an autonomous tumour producing androgens (the acquired form).
Congenital adrenogenital syndrome
Also known as congenital adrenal hyperplasia, this is due to an inborn defect of normal steroid synthesis (especially, hydrocortisone) by the adrenal cortex. Excessive ACTH production by the pituitary then occurs with resulting hyperplasia of the cortex and hypersecretion of cortical androgens.
Acquired adrenogenital syndrome
In children, it is always due to an adrenocortical tumour, which is usually malignant. In young adults, the condition may be caused either by a tumour or by cortical hyperplasia in cases of Cushing’s syndrome, in which androgen production is excessive.
Clinical features
These are conveniently divided into three varieties depending on age of onset.
Infancy
In the congenital variety of the adrenogenital syndrome, the newborn female child has a large clitoris and is often mistaken for a male (female pseudohermaphrodite). Growth is initially rapid, but the epiphyses fuse early so that the final result is stunted growth. There may be episodes of acute adrenocortical insufficiency, especially with stress or infection.
Childhood
Differential diagnosis
The diagnosis is based on detecting the excessive amount of steroid precursors, such as 17α- hydroxyprogesterone, which is raised in the most common congenital form, 21-
Differentiation must be made from the masculin­izing tumour of ovary, in which the 17­urinary excretion is normal, and also the common condition of simple hirsutism in women.
hydroxylase deficiency.
ketosteroid
Treatment
Bilateral cortical hyperplasia in infancy is treated by suppressing the excess ACTH secretion with exoge­nous steroids (e.g. hydrocortisone); on this regimen the virilizing features clear and growth progresses nor­mally. In the acquired variety, when a tumour is present it can be removed by laparoscopic adrenalectomy, and hyperplasia can be treated by bilateral adrenalectomy with hydrocortisone maintenance treatment.
Non- functioning tumours ofthe adrenal cortex
Small non- secreting adenomas of the adrenal cortex are common postmortem findings of no significance; they are increasingly detected by modern cross­imaging techniques such as CT and MR (see later in this chapter). Lesions less than 4cm in diameter with benign characteristics on imaging studies, which are proven to be non- secreting and which do not change on repeated imaging over a 6- month interval can be safely left in situ. Adrenal cysts and myelolipomas are relatively uncom­mon and usually are easily characterized on cross­sectional imaging. Myelolipomas may grow over time and cause local mass- effect symptoms; surgery can be considered when they exceed 6cm in diameter.
sectional
Virilization occurs in the female child and precocious sexual development, particularly of the penis, in the male child.
Adults
Amenorrhoea, hirsutism and breast atrophy in women, often associated with other features of Cushing’s syndrome. In men, feminization is seen, but this is extremely rare.
Adrenocortical carcinoma
Carcinomas of the adrenal cortex are rare with an inci­dence of one to two per million population per year. They are highly malignant and most cases are sporadic.
Most patients present with clinical symptoms related to hormone excess, commonly Cushing’s syndrome
The adrenal glands 419
https://t.me/medicina_free
and less frequently with virilization syndrome or hyperaldosteronism. Non­sent with abdominal or flank pain and/or constitu­tional symptoms, such as anorexia and weight loss.
functioning tumours pre-
Special investigations
Hormonal evaluation: carcinomas secrete large amounts of adrenal steroid precursors. Urine steroid profiling of metabolites of glucocorticoid, androgen, and aldosterone steroids and their precursors is a valuable diagnostic tool that can help differentiate benign (e.g. lipid- poor adenomas) and secondary (e.g. metastases or lymphoma) from malignant tumours and can serve as tumour markers.
CT and MRI are both used for diagnostic evaluation
• and to plan surgery (e.g. evidence of local invasion). FDG-
PET CT scanning is used to stage the disease.
Fine- needle aspiration biopsy should not be per- formed when adrenal cancer is suspected as it is poor at differentiating benign from malignant adren­ocortical tumours and can lead to needle track seeding.
Treatment
The only potential curative option is complete surgical resection that often has to include en bloc removal of involved organs. Tumour stage and resection margin status are the most important prognostic factors.
most common malignant tumour in neonates and infants under 1 year old. It may be bilateral, and up to 80% are associated with chromosomal abnormalities.
Macroscopically, it varies from a small nodular tumour to a large retroperitoneal mass, containing areas of haemorrhage and necrosis. Microscopically, it arises from neuroblasts of the adrenal medulla, or within any cells of neuroectodermal origin along the spine.
Neuroblastomas are clinically diverse and their behaviour can range from spontaneous regression, to maturation to a ganglioneuroma, to aggressive disease. They can invade adjacent tissues and spread to regional nodes and by the blood to bones and the liver.
Special investigations
CT, MR, ultrasound and bone scan are all used to
stage the disease.
Treatment
A combined approach with surgical removal of local disease together with chemotherapy and/or radio­therapy is necessary.
Prognosis
Early disease, localized to the area of origin and in the absence of distant or lymph node spread, carries a favourable prognosis, as do absence of chromosome abnormalities, and age under one year together with histologically well- differentiated tumour.
Adrenomedullary tumours
Classication
Primary
• Neuroblastoma.
Phaeochromocytoma.
• Ganglioneuroma.
Secondary (metastasis)
A common site, especially from breast and bronchus.
Neuroblastoma
A highly heterogeneous tumour of sympathetic cells occurring in children under the age of 5 years, and the
Phaeochromocytoma andparaganglioma (PPGL)
A physiologically active tumour of chromaffin cells, which secretes adrenaline and noradrenaline in vary­ing proportions. Ten per cent are malignant and 10% are multiple; 10% arise outside the adrenal gland (the ‘10% tumour’) from the sympathetic or parasympa­thetic ganglia from the skull base to the pelvis or the organ of Zuckerkandl (paragangliomas). Until recently, it had been thought that 10% of cases are familial, however, molecular genetics studies have now shown that around 40% of
4
Emil Zuckerkandl (1849–1910), Professor of Anatomy in Graz, and later Vienna, Austria. e organ he described is important in the regulation of blood pressure in early foetal life, but regresses in the third trimester. It is composed of cells of neural crest origin and its remnant typically lies near the aortic bifurcation or inferior mesenteric artery.
4
near the aortic bifurcation
420 The adrenal glands
https://t.me/medicina_free
patients harbour a germline mutation in an inherited PPGL gene.
Any age may be affected, but the tumour is most common in the fourth to fifth decade. The sexes are equally affected.
Clinical features
These are produced by excess circulating adrenaline and noradrenaline.
There is hypertension, which is paroxysmal or sus­tained, and which may be accompanied by palpita­tions, headache, blurred vision, fits, papilloedema and episodes of pallor, sweating and anxiety. There may be hyperglycaemia with glycosuria. Attacks may be infrequent, or occur several times a day.
The diagnostic triad, with high specificity and sen­sitivity, is as follows:
Headache, sudden in onset, and pounding.
Tachycardia and/or palpitations.
Sweating.
Familial cases can be multifocal. The tumour may co­exist with neurofibromas and café- au- lait spots (neu­rofibromatosis type 1, NF1), medullary carcinoma of the thyroid or a parathyroid adenoma as part of a multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN2) syndrome and von Hippel–Lindau disease (see Chapter 38). Germline mutations in the various succinate dehy­drogenase subunit genes (SDHX) are relatively com­mon but mutations in multiple other genes have been described.
Special investigations
Identifying thepresence ofa phaeochromocytoma
Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET scan: this is the imaging modality of choice in patients with suspected metastatic disease and has largely super­seded the meta- iodobenzylguanidine (
iodobenzylguanidine]) scan, although this
[meta-
is still useful in patients considered for MIBG ther­apy). A more sensitive than other imaging modalities for detection of metastatic disease.
68
Gallium (Ga- 68)- dotatate PET scan is
Treatment
Surgical excision is performed, usually laparoscopically but larger tumours may require an open operation. Prior to surgery, the patient receives α­blockade (e.g. phenoxybenzamine or alternatively dox­azosin) to negate the hypertensive effects of catechola­mines, which are released as a consequence of manipulation of the tumour during the operation. Beta­blockade (e.g. propranolol) is not routinely required unless significant tachycardia is noted in a euvolaemic patient (no significant postural blood pressure drop).
The catecholamines produced by phaeochromo cytomas cause marked vasoconstriction; hence, patients with phaeochromocytomas are relatively volume depleted. Immediately after removal of the tumour, the blood pressure may fall to very low levels; this is countered by volume replacement, although a vasopressor infusion is sometimes required.
Histological examination cannot differentiate benign from malignant PPGL. Patients who are less than 60 years old or any patients with extra- adrenal or metastatic disease should be referred for genetic test­ing. Patients should be followed up for a minimum of 10 years or sometimes for life (e.g. familial cases). Surveillance is based on plasma or urinary meta­nephrine testing and/or cross- sectional imaging.
131
I- MIBG
adrenergic
-
Plasma metanephrines: measurement of plasma metanephrine and nor- metanephrine is a useful first line test. Specificity and sensitivity depend on upper cut- off limits used in the assay (specificity can reach 100%). Some medications are impli­cated in false positive results (e.g. beta- and alpha­blockers, tricyclic antidepressants, caffeine, SSRIs).
Twenty- four- hour urine metanephrines: highly accurate, especially when the index of suspicion for identifying catecholamine- secreting tumours is low.
Locating aphaeochromocytoma
CT or MR may demonstrate the site and size of the tumour.
Ganglioneuroma
A benign, slow- growing tumour of sympathetic gan­glion cells, which only becomes clinically manifest if it reaches a large size. Only about 15% arise in the adrenal; the rest arise elsewhere along the sympathetic chain.
Adrenal ‘incidentaloma’
Adrenal masses are increasingly being recognized as incidental findings on imaging performed for other
Incidental adrenal mass
https://t.me/medicina_free
The adrenal glands 421
History and physical examination
(e.g. symptoms or signs suggestive of
hormonal hypersecretion, history of cancer)
Benign on imaging
Hormonal evaluation
Non-functional:Functional:
Endocrinology assessment, consider surgery
>4cm: consider surgery or surveillance <4cm: consider discharge
Differential diagnosis
Adrenocorttical cancer
Phaeochromocytoma Lipid poor adenoma ,
Adrenal metastasis
Benign non-cortical tumour
(e.g. ganglioneuroma)
Dedicated adrenal imaging
Indeterminate on
Hormonal evaluation
Consider surgery
consider surveillance
Figure42.2 Scheme for investigation of incidental adrenal lesion on imaging.
indications. Their prevalence is increasing and is higher among older adults. The majority are non-
A simplified algorithm for the assessment of adrenal
incidentalomas is shown in the above Figure42.2. functional benign tumours but approximately 25% represent functional tumours and/or primary or sec­ondary adrenal malignancies. Assessment should focus on establishing whether incidentalomas are
Hypertension
functional and whether they are malignant.
This section summarizes some surgical aspects of
Special investigations
Hormonal evaluation: this should focus on testing
for phaeochromocytoma (plasma metane­phrines), hyperaldosteronism if the patient is hypertensive or has episodes of hypokalaemia
raised blood pressure.
Classication
• Primary (cause unknown).
• Secondary (causes at least partially understood).
(paired PAC and PRC, potassium level), and for hypercortisolism (e.g. overnight low- dose DST). If primary adrenal malignancy is suspected, a uri­nary steroid profile should be added.
Dedicated adrenal imaging (CT or MRI): a low
attenuation, homogeneous adrenal mass on non­contrast CT (<10 Hounsfield Units, HU) is very likely to be an adrenal adenoma. Over 10 HU on unenhanced attenuation and delayed contrast washout on contrast enhanced CT (<60% absolute washout or <40% relative washout) indicate an indeterminate adrenal mass.
Primary hypertension
Primary hypertension is a disease of middle- aged and
elderly patients, which tends to run in families. It is a
very common condition and may be compatible with
few symptoms and a long life. There is an increase in
the peripheral resistance due to arteriolar thickening
or spasm but, as arteriolar thickening is a conse-
quence of hypertension, the argument as to which is
the primary factor has not been resolved in this
disease.
imaging
Consider FDG PET CT
Avoid biopsy (unless
metastasis suspected)
If no surgery,
422 The adrenal glands
https://t.me/medicina_free
The kidney may be an important contributor to the hypertension when its blood supply is impaired owing to arteriolar narrowing. There is a vicious circle of arteriolar spasm, arteriolar thickening, renal ischaemia and further hypertension, which leads to a progressive increase in the severity of this condition.
Secondary hypertension
This should be suspected mainly in patients with
resistant hypertension, young patients (e.g.
drug­under 30 years), hypertension associated with elec­trolyte abnormalities and patients with malignant hypertension. It may be due to the following factors:
Renal disease.
1 2 Coarctation of the aorta (see Chapter13). 3 Endocrine causes:
Phaeochromocytoma (see earlier in this
a
chapter).
Cushing’s syndrome (see earlier in this chapter).
b c Conn’s syndrome (see earlier in this chapter).
4
Raised intracranial pressure (see Chapter17). 5 Toxaemia of pregnancy. 6 Obstructive sleep apnoea.
(and thus hypertension) and acts on the adrenal cortex to release aldosterone (which causes sodium retention). The features of hypertension are thus set in motion. This renin mechanism is protective as far as the kidney is concerned and is one method by which the kidney maintains its circulation. How important renin is in the maintenance of normal blood pressure has not been established. All forms of renal parenchymal disease are likely to produce hypertension. Especially common are chronic glomerulonephritis and chronic pyelonephritis.
ACE inhibitors, such as captopril, are effective at reducing blood pressure in patients with renal dis­ease. However, when renal insufficiency is due to renal artery stenosis, their use will exacerbate the impaired perfusion and may result in deterioration in renal function.
Unilateral renal diseases producing hypertension
These are of particular surgical importance, as they may sometimes be amenable to curative treatment either by nephrectomy or by reconstructive proce­dures on the kidney or on its blood supply.
Renovascular hypertension
Mechanism of renal hypertension
(Figure42.3)
Ever since the experiments of Goldblatt,5 it has been known that impairment of blood perfusion to the kid­neys can result in hypertension which, if the renal perfusion remains impaired, may become perma­nent, owing to the vicious circle that has already been mentioned. The mechanism of renal hypertension appears to be the release of the hormone renin from the juxtaglomerular cells in the renal cortex. Renin acts on the serum protein angiotensinogen to give rise to a physiologically inactive decapeptide, angiotensin I. Angiotensin I is then converted to the octapeptide angiotensin II by the action of angiotensin­enzyme (ACE). Angiotensin II is a potent vasocon­strictor and causes an increase in peripheral resistance
5
Harry Goldblatt (1891–1977), Professor of Experimental Pathology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.
converting
Unilateral pyelonephritis
Rarely, pyelonephritis may affect one kidney only, especially if this kidney has been the site of previ­ous trauma or of congenital malformation, if the ureter on that side has been blocked or if there is unilateral hydronephrosis. If the condition is diag­nosed early, before the hypertension has reached the chronic established stage and before hyperten­sive changes have taken place in the opposite kidney, removal of the affected kidney may result in a return to normal blood pressure. Presence of a functioning contralateral kidney must be con­firmed first.
Renal artery stenosis
This is a fairly common cause of secondary hyperten­sion. It occurs in two age groups: the elderly (70%), in whom the cause of the narrowing is atherosclerosis, and young people, especially women, in whom the cause appears to be the thickening of the intima and media by hyperplasia of collagen and muscle– fibro- muscular dysplasia.
The adrenal glands 423
https://t.me/medicina_free
Angiotensinogen
Reduced
Vasoconstriction
Hypertension
Angiotensin III
Deactivated
blood
flow
Renin
from
juxtaglomerular cells
Angiotensin-converting
Proteases
Asp Arg
enzyme
Asp Arg
Circulating protein
Angiotensin I
Val Tyr Ile
HisPhe ProHisLeu
Angiotensin II
Val Tyr Ile
HisPhe Pro
Figure42.3 Mechanism of renal hypertension.
Special investigations
Arteriography should be performed in young patients, in whom fibromuscular dysplasia char­acteristically shows up as a string of beads in the distal part of the renal artery and is bilateral.
Duplex scanning may permit diagnosis of a signifi­cant stenosis.
Renin estimation should be performed by selec­tive renal vein catheterization. Renin concentra­tion is at least 1.5 times higher on the affected side. It is mostly informative in the presence of bilateral renal artery stenosis where the test can help lateralize the side that contributes most to the hypertension.
Diethylene- triamine- penta- acetic acid (DTPA)
radionuclide scan will show renal blood flow difference, especially if the patient has been given an ACE inhibitor such as captopril to exaggerate the condition. It helps determine the relative function of each kidney when therapeutic nephrectomy is considered.
Treatment
Angioplasty with or without stent placement. In suitable cases, a localized stenosis can be dilated by a balloon angioplasty. This is particularly successful in fibromuscular dysplasia.
424 The adrenal glands
https://t.me/medicina_free
Renal artery bypass. If the stenosis is fairly proxi­mal and the distal vessels relatively healthy, it may be possible to remove the stenotic portion of the artery or bypass it, for example on the left side by joining the splenic artery to the renal artery distal to the blockage.
Autotransplantation of the kidney may be performed
after excising the stenosed portion of the artery.
Unilateral nephrectomy may be appropriate when
• the small intrarenal branches of the renal artery are also diseased or to remove a small atrophic kidney with almost complete renal artery occlusion.
Other lesions of the renal arteries, for instance aneurysm and congenital bands, may also result in hypertension, which can be cured by unilateral nephrectomy or direct arterial surgery.
It should be noted that, since the introduction of effective antihypertensive drugs (in particular ACE inhibitors), enthusiasm for surgery in unilateral renal disease has waned, apart from patients in whom the kidney’s function is grossly impaired.
Other unilateral renal diseases can cause hyperten­sion, including hydronephrosis, tuberculosis of the kidneys or tumours of the kidney; nephrectomy is indicated in these conditions.
Additional resources
Case 109: A girl with hirsutes