What are the dangers of high aldosterone?

Aldosterone is a hormone. If aldosterone levels increase, it will cause water and sodium retention in the human body, aggravate kidney damage, and then cause diseases such as high blood pressure. Therefore, once aldosterone levels increase, you must use medication in time, or go to the hospital in time and actively cooperate with the doctor to control aldosterone within the normal range to avoid adverse effects of elevated aldosterone on the body.

Effects of aldosterone

It is a hormone that regulates blood volume in the human body. It maintains water-salt balance by regulating the reabsorption of sodium ions by the kidneys. Aldosterone is a hormone that regulates extracellular fluid volume and electrolytes. The secretion of aldosterone is achieved through the renin-angiotensin system. When the extracellular fluid volume decreases, the juxtaglomerular cells are stimulated to secrete renin, activating the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and increasing aldosterone secretion, which increases the kidney's reabsorption of sodium ions, thereby increasing water reabsorption and increasing the extracellular fluid volume. Conversely, when the extracellular fluid volume increases, the above-mentioned opposite mechanism causes aldosterone secretion to decrease, kidney reabsorption of sodium ions and water to decrease, and the extracellular fluid volume to decrease. Decreased blood sodium and increased blood potassium also stimulate the adrenal cortex to increase aldosterone secretion.

Plasma aldosterone is an important mineralocorticoid secreted by the zona glomerulosa of the adrenal cortex, which has the physiological function of regulating sodium, potassium metabolism and extracellular fluid volume.

Clinical significance of plasma aldosterone

1. Hyperplasia, adenoma or cancer of the adrenal cortex can cause excessive secretion of aldosterone, which is called primary aldosteronism; congestive heart failure, ascites due to cirrhosis, nephrotic syndrome, idiopathic edema, renal artery stenosis or ischemia, salt-losing nephropathy or enteropathy, etc. can cause increased plasma aldosterone, which is called secondary aldosteronism. Aldosterone levels may also increase during pregnancy, heavy sweating, and the use of female birth control pills and estrogen.

2. The aldosterone levels in patients with hypopituitarism and adrenocortical insufficiency are significantly reduced. The former has a decreased ACTH level in the blood, while the latter has an increased ACTH level. Selective hypoaldosteronism is caused by a lack of renin secretion by the kidneys, resulting in low renin and low aldosteronism. Excessive water intake or insufficient potassium intake, as well as the use of drugs such as reserpine and propranolol can cause a decrease in aldosterone.

Difference Between Plasma and Serum

Plasma is the liquid without cell components obtained after whole blood leaves the blood vessels, is anticoagulated, and then centrifuged and precipitated. It contains fibrinogen (fibrinogen can be converted into fibrin and has a coagulation effect). If calcium ions are added to the plasma, the plasma will re-coagulate, so there is no free calcium ions in the plasma. Serum is the liquid released after the blood in vitro coagulates and the blood clots condense. It no longer contains fibrinogen, but contains free calcium ions. If calcium ions are added to it, the serum will no longer coagulate. In addition, another difference between plasma and serum is that serum contains fewer coagulation factors and more coagulation products. In addition, the serum contains immune serum (antimicrobial serum) with specific immune antibodies (such as antitoxins or agglutinins).