Aldosterone/Renin Test with Charts

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Thank you, I appreciate that. I will be doing that test in the near future. I have to be off of all my medicines for a week ahead of doing it. She is doing urine and blood on both of those, and she is also doing a 24 hr urine metanephrines, and of course a renal panel again. I cannot wait to see what is up there. There is also a vit D deficiency connection . So, we shall see....... Again thank you ! ! I sure hope we all get down to the roots of some of this ! !

Hugs !

DedeSee what's free at AOL.com.

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Aldosterone and Renin

Related tests: Cortisol, Electrolytes, Potassium email this page

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The Test

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How is it used?

When is it ordered?

What does the test result mean?

Is there anything else I should know?

How is it used?

Although some doctors measure either plasma or urine aldosterone by

itself, in most cases it is necessary to measure both renin and

aldosterone (and occasionally cortisol) to get a complete picture of

what is happening with hormone production. These tests may be

ordered to help diagnose and to monitor conditions associated with

aldosterone excess or deficiency. The table below indicates the

changes in renin, aldosterone, and cortisol that occur with

different disorders.

Primary hyperaldosteronism (Conn's syndrome)

Aldsoterone: High

Cortisol : Normal

Renin: Low

Secondary hyperaldosteronism

Aldosterone: High

Cortisol: Normal

Renin " High

Cushing's syndrome

Aldosterone: Low-normal

Cortisol: High

Renin: Low

Adrenal insufficiency ('s disease)

Aldosterone: Low

Cortisol: Low

Renin: High

Pituitary disease

Adosterone: Normal

Cortisol: Low

Renin: Normal

Primary hyperaldosteronism is caused by the overproduction of

aldosterone by the adrenal glands, usually by a benign tumor of one

of the glands. The high aldosterone level increases reabsorption of

sodium (salt) and loss of potassium by the kidneys, resulting in an

electrolyte imbalance. Primary hyperaldosteronism is sometimes

called Conn's syndrome. Symptoms are not typically present, although

muscle weakness can occur if potassium levels are very low. The

presence of hypokalemia (low potassium) in a person with

hypertension suggests the need to look for hyperaldosteronism.

Secondary hyperaldosteronism, which is more common, can occur as a

result of anything that decreases blood flow to the kidneys,

decreases blood pressure, or lowers sodium levels. The most

important cause is narrowing of the blood vessels that supply the

kidney, termed renal artery stenosis. This causes high blood

pressure due to high renin and aldosterone, that may be cured by

surgery or angioplasty (using a catheter put into the groin to open

up blocked vessels). Sometimes, to see if only one kidney is

affected, a catheter is inserted through the groin and blood is

collected directly from the veins draining the kidney (renal vein

renin levels); if the value is significantly higher in one side,

this indicates where the narrowing of the artery is present.

Similarly, blood may sometimes be taken from both of the adrenal

veins to determine whether there is a difference in the amount of

aldosterone (and sometimes cortisol) produced by each of the adrenal

glands. Secondary hyperaldosteronism may also be seen with

congestive heart failure, cirrhosis, kidney disease, and toxemia of

pregnancy.

Hypoaldosteronism (decreased production) usually occurs as part of

adrenal insufficiency; it causes dehydration, low blood pressure,

hyperkalemia (high potassium), and hyponatremia (low sodium).

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When is it ordered?

A plasma and/or 24-hour urine aldosterone and a plasma renin may be

ordered when a patient has high blood pressure and a low potassium.

Aldosterone levels are sometimes ordered, along with other tests,

when a doctor suspects that a patient has adrenal insufficiency.

Since primary aldosteronism is a potentially curable cause of

hypertension, and because it is often resistant to conventional

treatment for high blood pressure, some doctors order aldosterone

and renin levels when they want to help clarify the treatments that

are likely to be effective in patients with high blood pressure.

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What does the test result mean?

NOTE: A standard reference range is not available for this test.

Because reference values are dependent on many factors, including

patient age, gender, sample population, and test method, numeric

test results have different meanings in different labs. Your lab

report should include the specific reference range for your test.

Lab Tests Online strongly recommends that you discuss your test

results with your doctor. For more information on reference ranges,

please read Reference Ranges and What They Mean.

The changes in plasma aldosterone, cortisol, and renin are

summarized in the table earlier on the page. High levels of serum

and urine aldosterone, along with a low plasma renin, indicate

primary aldosteronism. Secondary aldosteronism, on the other hand,

is characterized by an increase in both aldosterone and renin.

A low aldosterone is usually part of adrenal insufficiency or

's disease. In infants with congenital adrenal hyperplasia,

the infant lacks an enzyme needed to make cortisol; in some cases,

this also decreases production of aldosterone. This is a rare cause

of low aldosterone.

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Is there anything else I should know?

The amount of salt in the diet and medications, such as over-the-

counter pain relievers of the non-steroid class (such as Motrin and

Advil), diuretics (water pills), beta blockers, steroids,

angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, and oral

contraceptives can affect the test results. Many of these drugs are

used to treat high blood pressure. Your doctor will tell you if you

should change the amount of sodium (salt) you ingest in your diet,

your use of diuretics or other medications, or your exercise routine

for aldosterone testing.

Aldosterone levels fall to very low levels with severe illness, so

testing should not be done at times when a person is very ill.

Stress and strenuous exercise can temporarily increase aldosterone

results.

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