Test characteristics of the aldosterone-to-renin ratio as a screening test for primary aldosteronism.

Background: The aldosterone-to-renin ratio (ARR) is a widely used screening test for primary aldosteronism. Current guidelines recommend a cut-off value of 91  pmol/mU. Studies on its sensitivity, specificity, reproducibility and the role of medication have been conflicting.

Determinants of blood pressure reduction by eplerenone in uncontrolled hypertension.

Background: Add-on therapy with aldosterone receptor antagonists has been reported to lower blood pressure (BP) in patients with uncontrolled hypertension. We assessed potential predictors of this response.

Methods: In essential hypertensive patients with uncontrolled BP, despite the use of at least two antihypertensives, plasma renin and aldosterone concentrations and the transtubular potassium gradient (TTKG) were measured.

High thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor levels are associated with an increased risk of premature peripheral arterial disease.

Background: Previous studies suggested that hypofibrinolysis is associated with increased risk of peripheral arterial disease. Thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) has been identified as an important inhibitor of fibrinolysis. The aim of our study was to assess the role of TAFI in young patients with peripheral arterial disease.

Hypofibrinolysis is a risk factor for arterial thrombosis at young age.

The relationship between defective fibrinolysis and arterial thrombosis is uncertain. The evaluation of the plasma fibrinolytic potential might provide stronger evidence linking fibrinolysis to arterial thrombosis than the evaluation of the individual fibrinolytic factors. We determined the plasma fibrinolytic potential of 335 young survivors of a first arterial thrombosis, including coronary artery disease (n = 198), ischaemic stroke (n = 103) and peripheral artery disease (n = 34), enrolled in a population-based case-control study and of 330 healthy individuals.

Genetic variation in thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) is associated with the risk of splanchnic vein thrombosis.

Splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT) has been associated with a hypercoagulable state. Thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) may contribute to a hypercoagulable state, and therefore we were interested in the role of TAFI in SVT. Since the disease is frequently associated with liver insufficiency, which affects plasma levels of TAFI, we studied the role of variation in the TAFI gene in SVT.