Adrenal News

Ethnic and racial disparities in health care was a key focus for Healio readers in 2020. Among the biggest news were studies showing race as a primary driver for poor outcomes and death in COVID-19.

Testing for primary aldosteronism was rare among a cohort of U.S. veterans with treatment-resistant hypertension, yet was associated with higher rates of evidence-based treatment and better longitudinal blood pressure control, data show.

Unrecognized and untreated pheochromocytoma in women before or during pregnancy was associated with a substantially higher risk for maternal or fetal complications, according to data from a retrospective study.

In September, the FDA approved an immediate-release oral granule formulation of hydrocortisone for use as replacement therapy in adrenocortical insufficiency for patients younger than 17 years, according to a company press release.

Black and Hispanic adults undergoing adrenalectomy experience higher complication rates and longer hospital stay and have decreased access to high-volume surgeons compared with white counterparts, according to a database review.

All adults with endocrine disorders should undergo measurement of cholesterol and triglyceride levels to better manage their cardiovascular risk, according to a new clinical practice guideline from the Endocrine Society.

Adults with adrenal insufficiency who are adequately treated and trained display the same incidence of COVID-19-suggestive symptoms and disease severity as controls, according to a presenter.

The steroidogenesis inhibitor levoketoconazole improved and normalized morning urinary free cortisol concentrations for adults with endogenous Cushing’s disease compared with placebo, according to an industry press release.

Simply put, adrenal vein sampling carries high accuracy. Cross-sectional imaging with CT or MRI does not.

Primary aldosteronism, an adrenal disorder and a secondary cause of hypertension, has historically been considered a rare condition.