Wednesday, November 30, 2011

High BP



Now, simple scan to spot curable cause of high BP
Wednesday, November 30th, 2011
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A simple, less-invasive scan can help diagnose the most common curable cause of high blood pressure and can save thousands of lives per year, a new study has suggested.

The scan can accurately detect Conn’s syndrome, the most common curable cause of high blood pressure and is thought to affect five per cent – or around 600,000 – of all those with the condition.


The current test to identify those with the syndrome involves taking a blood sample from a specific vein supplying the adrenal gland to measure levels of a key blood pressure-regulating hormone called aldosterone.

This is complex, can be difficult to perform, and often fails to diagnose it properly.

Although it is extremely difficult to spot Conn’s syndrome but once identified, it can be successfully treated.

The study found that a PET-CT scan, commonly used to detect cancer, could identify Conn’s syndrome.
For the study, the researchers analysed scans of 44 patients and found that the quick scan accurately identified adenomas causing high blood pressure in 76 per cent of patients.

“We were excited to see our technique work so well, and shortcut the delays and discomforts associated with the alternative test,” the Daily Express quoted Morris Brown, professor of clinical pharmacology who led the Cambridge study, as saying.

“In the future, PET-CT could be a quick way to reassure a lot of patients without the need for detailed investigations.”

The study has been published online in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.
Disclaimer: Bioscholar is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The articles are based on peer reviewed research, and discoveries/products mentioned in the articles may not be approved by the regulatory bodies.
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indianexpress.com/news/retell-retail/882587/0

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