The present study was based on the Taiwan Primary Aldosteronism Investigation (TAIPAI) database. From June 2006 to March 2008, the random urine and 24-h urine samples of the referred patients were routinely analyzed. A total of 222 hypertensive patients were referred to our hypertension clinic for the confirmation of PA after an initial evaluation. The database was constructed for quality assurance in 1 medical center (National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan) and its 3 affiliated hospitals in different cities (National Taiwan University Hospital Yun-Lin branch, Yun-Lin, southern Taiwan; Tzi-Chi Hospital, Taipei; and Tao-Yuan General Hospital, Tao-Yuan, central Taiwan). All patients hospitalized with the intention to confirm PA diagnosis and who received salt loading test were recruited. Patients were excluded because of loss to follow-up (n = 13), incomplete urinary collection (n = 18), chronic kidney disease with a decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate ([GFR] <60 mL/[min·1.73 m2]; n = 11), heart failure, New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II or higher (n = 5), hyperthyroidism (n = 2), and malignancy with metastasis (n = 6) (Fig. 1 ). All antihypertensive medications were discontinued for at least 21 days before the study. Diltiazem and/or doxazosin were administered for control of marked high blood pressure when required [1] (link). Medications that might interfere with the renin-aldosterone axis, including steroids, sex hormones, licorice, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, were also withheld.
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