Are aldosterone levels and intravascular volume expansion increased in patients with resistant hypertension compared to controls?
Patients with resistant hypertension exhibit higher aldosterone levels and intravascular volume expansion, potentially driven by a common stimulus like corticotropin.
Aldosterone levels are higher and there is evidence of intravascular volume expansion (higher brain-type and atrial natriuretic peptide levels) in patients with resistant hypertension vs controls. These differences are most pronounced in men. A significant correlation between 24-hour urinary aldosterone levels and cortisol excretion suggests that a common stimulus, such as corticotropin, may underlie the aldosterone excess in patients with resistant hypertension.
Krishna K. Gaddam (Mon,) studied this question.