Cortisol Secretion, Sensitivity and Activity and Hypertension

Cortisol Secretion, Sensitivity and Activity and Hypertension

The goal of this observational study is to evaluate, between patients with arterial hypertension and non hypertensive control group,

• the prevalence of hidden hypercortisolism
• the relationship between organ damage and oxidative stress level, cortisol secretion degree, sensitivity and peripheral activity

Inclusion Criteria:

• Hypertension group: arterial hypertension
• No hypertension group: absence of arterial hypertension

Exclusion Criteria:

• body mass index (BMI) >30 kg/m2
• active smoking (>20 cigarettes/day)
• pregnancy/lactation
• hypertension associated with family history of hypertension and cerebrovascular events before 40 years of age
• sleep apnea
• hypertension appearance in pre-pubertal age
• hypokalemia
• hypertension in the setting of an incidental adrenal mass
• classic signs and symptoms of hypercortisolism (lunar facies, striae, hypertrichosis, skin atrophy, hump)
• proven endocrine hypertension (pheochromocytoma, hyperaldosteronism, hyperparathyroidism, acromegaly, hyperthyroidism)
• renovascular hypertension
• diseases or conditions associated with increased activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary- adrenal axis and/or oxidative stress, such as type 2 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, severe rheumatic/autoimmune diseases, severe hematological diseases, alcoholism, depressive syndrome, chronic renal failure (GFR <45 ml/min), severe hypovitaminosis D (25OHvitaminD <10 ng/dL)
• therapies that interfere with the activity of the HPA axis (i.e. glucocorticoids, antidepressants).