PotassiumNEW2026-09

No incremental benefit of coil-assisted over ethanol embolization in unilateral primary aldosteronism.

Ma Zhi-Qiang, Liang Ning-Peng, Xiong Hong-Liang, Yang Jiao et al. — American journal of hypertension

Summary

This study compared two medical procedures, coil-assisted ethanol embolization and ethanol embolization alone, for treating a condition called unilateral primary aldosteronism. Researchers found that adding a coil did not improve treatment success rates for patients. Both procedures were effective in lowering blood pressure and improving serum potassium levels, without major safety concerns.

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Key points

A medical procedure called selective adrenal arterial embolization (SAAE) is used to treat unilateral primary aldosteronism.
Adding a coil to ethanol embolization did not improve treatment success compared to ethanol alone.
Both embolization methods effectively lowered blood pressure and improved serum potassium levels.
The procedures were generally safe, with no major complications reported.

What the study looked at

• What question did the study ask? This study investigated whether adding a coil to a medical procedure called ethanol embolization would improve outcomes for patients with unilateral primary aldosteronism, a condition that can lead to high blood pressure and low potassium levels. • How was it studied? Researchers conducted a retrospective study, looking back at data from 82 patients who underwent a single-vessel selective adrenal arterial embolization (SAAE) between 2020 and 2021. Patients were divided into two groups: those who received coil-assisted ethanol embolization (23 patients) and those who received ethanol embolization alone (59 patients). The main goal was to compare clinical success rates after 12 months, along with biochemical success, changes in blood pressure, and safety. • What did it find? The study found no significant difference in clinical or biochemical success rates between the coil-assisted method and ethanol embolization alone. Both treatment approaches led to similar improvements in blood pressure and serum potassium levels. Importantly, neither method resulted in major procedure-related complications, indicating they were generally safe.

Dietary takeaway

This study highlights that medical treatments for conditions like primary aldosteronism can effectively manage symptoms such as high blood pressure and low serum potassium. While this research focuses on a medical procedure and not dietary interventions, maintaining a balanced diet rich in potassium-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, and legumes is generally beneficial for overall cardiovascular health. Remember that this is just one study, and medical advice should always come from a healthcare professional.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Selective adrenal arterial embolization (SAAE) is an alternative treatment for unilateral primary aldosteronism (PA), but its overall success remains variable. We evaluated whether coil-assisted ethanol embolization (Coil-E) improves outcomes compared with ethanol embolization alone in patients undergoing single-vessel SAAE. METHODS: In this retrospective study, patients with unilateral PA who underwent single-vessel SAAE between 2020 and 2021 were categorized into Coil-E and ethanol groups. The primary endpoint was clinical success at 12 months defined according to the Primary Aldosteronism Surgical Outcome (PASO) criteria. Secondary endpoints included biochemical success, changes in 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure (BP), and safety outcomes. Propensity score-based analyses were performed. RESULTS: Eighty-two patients were included (23 Coil-E, 59 ethanol). At 12 months, complete clinical success occurred in 17.4% vs 20.3%, partial success in 47.8% vs 35.6%, and absent success in 34.8% vs 44.1% (Coil-E vs ethanol; all P > 0.05). Complete biochemical success occurred in 39.1% vs 55.9%, whereas absent biochemical success occurred in 34.8% vs 28.8%. Mean 24-hour systolic/diastolic BP decreased by 21.6/10.1 mmHg in the Coil-E group and 20.5/9.7 mmHg in the ethanol group, with no significant between-group differences. Serum potassium and aldosterone improved in both groups without deterioration in renal function or cortisol levels. No major procedure-related complications occurred. Findings were consistent across adjusted analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with unilateral PA undergoing single-vessel SAAE, Coil-E was not associated with improved PASO-defined clinical or biochemical success compared with ethanol embolization alone.

View on PubMed →DOI: 10.1093/ajh/hpag061