Evaluation of insulin sensitivity and secretion in primary aldosteronism

ABSTRACT

In primary aldosteronism (PA), insulin response to glucose is not fully understood. Insulin action was elucidated using indices in 32 PA and 21 essential hypertension (EH) patients. These patients were evaluated using homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) indices, quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI), and insulinogenic index (IGI), which were expressed for insulin sensitivity/secretion and the early phase of insulin secretion. Insulin sensitivity and early phase of insulin secretion were decreased in PA, and there was a negative correlation between serum potassium concentration and insulin sensitivity indices. These findings suggest that glucose intolerance in PA may be caused by hypokalemia-induced insulin resistance and hypokalemia-independent impairment of early-phase insulin secretion.

KEYWORDS:

• Insulin action
• primary aldosteronism
• serum potassium

Acknowledgments

We are very grateful to all of the staff at the Department of Endocrinology and Hypertension, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, who supported this study.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors of this manuscript have no conflicts of interest to declare.