Aldosterone
Overview
Aldosterone is a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal cortex that primarily
regulates sodium and potassium balance in the body by promoting sodium
reabsorption and potassium excretion in the kidneys. Elevated levels may
indicate primary aldosteronism, such as adrenal adenoma or hyperplasia, while
low levels can occur in adrenal insufficiency. It is clinically useful for
diagnosing hypertension causes, electrolyte disorders, and guiding treatments
like mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists.rupahealth+3
Clinical Use Cases
- Diagnosis of primary aldosteronism (adrenal adenoma, carcinoma,
hyperplasia).nature+2 - Evaluation of secondary aldosteronism (renovascular disease, salt depletion,
heart failure).mayocliniclabs+2 - Assessing renin-aldosterone ratio for hypertension screening.[mayocliniclabs]
- Monitoring heart failure and kidney disease management.pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih+1
Specimen Types
- Serum (red top or serum gel tube).[rupahealth]
- Plasma (EDTA).[nature</a >]
- Urine (for 24-hour collections in some protocols).[pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih]
Measurement Methods
- Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry
(LC-MS/MS).pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih+2 - Immunoassays (e.g., Liaison, iSYS).[academic.oup]
- Radioimmunoassay (less common now).[pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih]
Test Preparation and Influencing Factors
- Collect mid-morning (8-10 a.m.) after 2 hours upright activity and 5-15
minutes seated.labcorp+2 - Discontinue spironolactone 4-6 weeks prior.rupahealth+1
- Maintain normal sodium intake; hypokalemia or sodium depletion elevates
levels.pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih+1 - Posture (upright higher than supine), time of day (p.m. lower), and ACE
inhibitors affect results.onlinelibrary.wiley+1
Synonyms
- (+)-Aldosterone.[go.drugbank]
- 11β,21-Dihydroxy-3,20-dioxopregn-4-en-18-al.[go.drugbank]
- 11beta,21-dihydroxy-3,20-dioxo-4-pregnen-18-al.[go.drugbank]
Further Reading
- Aldosterone
- Aldosterone, Plasma – Mayo Clinic Laboratories;
- Primary Aldosteronism: State-of-the-Art Review – PMC;
- Wikipedia