Machine learning for classification of hypertension subtypes using multi-omics: A multi-centre, retrospective, data-driven study.

Background: Arterial hypertension is a major cardiovascular risk factor. Identification of secondary hypertension in its various forms is key to preventing and targeting treatment of cardiovascular complications. Simplified diagnostic tests are urgently required to distinguish primary and secondary hypertension to address the current underdiagnosis of the latter.

Predicting Hypertension Subtypes with Machine Learning Using Targeted Metabolites and Their Ratios.

Hypertension is a major global health problem with high prevalence and complex associated health risks. Primary hypertension (PHT) is most common and the reasons behind primary hypertension are largely unknown. Endocrine hypertension (EHT) is another complex form of hypertension with an estimated prevalence varying from 3 to 20% depending on the population studied.

Preanalytical Pitfalls in Untargeted Plasma Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Metabolomics of Endocrine Hypertension.

Despite considerable morbidity and mortality, numerous cases of endocrine hypertension (EHT) forms, including primary aldosteronism (PA), pheochromocytoma and functional paraganglioma (PPGL), and Cushing's syndrome (CS), remain undetected. We aimed to establish signatures for the different forms of EHT, investigate potentially confounding effects and establish unbiased disease biomarkers. Plasma samples were obtained from 13 biobanks across seven countries and analyzed using untargeted NMR metabolomics.

Pre- versus post-operative untargeted plasma nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy metabolomics of pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma.

Purpose: Pheochromocytomas and Paragangliomas (PPGL) result in chronic catecholamine excess and serious health complications. A recent study obtained a metabolic signature in plasma from PPGL patients; however, its targeted nature may have generated an incomplete picture and a broader approach could provide additional insights. We aimed to characterize the plasma metabolome of PPGL patients before and after surgery, using an untargeted approach, and to broaden the scope of the investigated metabolic impact of these tumors.

Targeted Metabolomics as a Tool in Discriminating Endocrine From Primary Hypertension.

Context: Identification of patients with endocrine forms of hypertension (EHT) (primary hyperaldosteronism [PA], pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma [PPGL], and Cushing syndrome [CS]) provides the basis to implement individualized therapeutic strategies. Targeted metabolomics (TM) have revealed promising results in profiling cardiovascular diseases and endocrine conditions associated with hypertension.

Objective: Use TM to identify distinct metabolic patterns between primary hypertension (PHT) and EHT and test its discriminating ability.

Pregnancy and phaeochromocytoma/paraganglioma: clinical clues affecting diagnosis and outcome - a systematic review.

Background: Phaeochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGL) in pregnancy, if not diagnosed antepartum, pose a high risk for mother and child.

Objective: To examine the clinical clues of antepartum and postpartum/postmortem diagnosis of PPGL.

Search Strategy: Case reports on PPGL in pregnancy published between 1 January 1988 and 30 June 2019 in English, German, Dutch or French.

HIF2α supports pro-metastatic behavior in pheochromocytomas/paragangliomas.

Mutations that drive the stabilization of hypoxia inducible factor 2α (HIF2α) and downstream pseudohypoxic signaling are known to predispose to the development of pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs). However, any role of HIF2α in predisposition to metastatic disease remains unclear. To assess such a role we combined gene-manipulations in pheochromocytoma cell lines with retrospective analyses of patient data and gene expression profiling in tumor specimens.

Plasma metanephrines and prospective prediction of tumor location, size and mutation type in patients with pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma.

Objectives: Plasma free metanephrines are commonly used for diagnosis of pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGLs), but can also provide other information. This multicenter study prospectively examined whether tumor size, location, and mutations could be predicted by these metabolites.

Methods: Predictions of tumor location, size, and mutation type, based on measurements of plasma normetanephrine, metanephrine, and methoxytyramine were made without knowledge of disease in 267 patients subsequently determined to have PPGLs.

PHEOCHROMOCYTOMA CONCEALED BY CHRONIC METHAMPHETAMINE ABUSE.

Objective: Both clinical suspicion and diagnosis of pheochromocytoma (PCC) can be challenging in patients where the presentation can be confused with the pharmacophysiological effects of illicit drugs known to activate the sympathetic nervous system. We report on such a patient and outline considerations that can impact diagnostic decision making.

Methods: Clinical examination, measurement of plasma metanephrines, followed by magnetic resonance imaging, iodine 123-metaiodobenzylguanidine single-photon emission computed tomography, and histopathology of the resected tumor.

Urine steroid metabolomics for the differential diagnosis of adrenal incidentalomas in the EURINE-ACT study: a prospective test validation study.

Background: Cross-sectional imaging regularly results in incidental discovery of adrenal tumours, requiring exclusion of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC). However, differentiation is hampered by poor specificity of imaging characteristics. We aimed to validate a urine steroid metabolomics approach, using steroid profiling as the diagnostic basis for ACC.

Glucocorticoid Excess in Patients with Pheochromocytoma Compared with Paraganglioma and Other Forms of Hypertension.

Context: Catecholamines and adrenocortical steroids are important regulators of blood pressure. Bidirectional relationships between adrenal steroids and catecholamines have been established but whether this is relevant to patients with pheochromocytoma is unclear.

Objective: This study addresses the hypothesis that patients with pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGL) have altered steroid production compared with patients with primary hypertension.

Targeting pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma with polyamine inhibitors.

Background: Pheochromocytomas (PCCs) and paragangliomas (PGLs) are neuroendocrine tumors that are mostly benign. Metastatic disease does occur in about 10% of cases of PCC and up to 25% of PGL, and for these patients no effective therapies are available. Patients with mutations in the succinate dehydrogenase subunit B (SDHB) gene tend to have metastatic disease.

Mass spectrometry reveals misdiagnosis of primary aldosteronism with scheduling for adrenalectomy due to immunoassay interference.

Background: Diagnosis of primary aldosteronism (PA) involves a multistep process reliant on the accuracy of aldosterone measurements at each step. We report on immunoassay interference leading to a wrongful diagnosis and indication for surgical intervention.

Case: A 38-year old hypertensive male with a 1.

Overnight/first-morning urine free metanephrines and methoxytyramine for diagnosis of pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma: is this an option?

Objective: Sympathoadrenal activity is decreased during overnight rest. This study assessed whether urinary-free normetanephrine, metanephrine and methoxytyramine in overnight/first-morning urine collections might offer an alternative to measurements in 24-h collections or plasma for diagnosis of pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGL).

Design And Methods: Prospective multicenter cross-sectional diagnostic study involving 706 patients tested for PPGL, in whom tumors were confirmed in 79 and excluded in 627 after follow-up.

Pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma: clinical feature-based disease probability in relation to catecholamine biochemistry and reason for disease suspicion.

Objective: Hypertension and symptoms of catecholamine excess are features of pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs). This prospective observational cohort study assessed whether differences in presenting features in patients tested for PPGLs might assist establishing likelihood of disease.

Design And Methods: Patients were tested for PPGLs because of signs and symptoms, an incidental mass on imaging or routine surveillance due to previous history or hereditary risk.

Pheochromocytoma and Pregnancy.

Pheochromocytoma during pregnancy, although rare, is a perilous condition. The wellbeing of mother and fetus are at stake if not diagnosed and treated antenatally and timely. The diagnosis is frequently overlooked because of the aspecific nature of signs and symptoms and confusion with pregnancy-related hypertension.

Reference intervals for LC-MS/MS measurements of plasma free, urinary free and urinary acid-hydrolyzed deconjugated normetanephrine, metanephrine and methoxytyramine.

Background: Plasma or urinary metanephrines are recommended for screening of pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs). Measurements of urinary free rather than deconjugated metanephrines and additional measurements of methoxytyramine represent other developments. For all measurements there is need for reference intervals.

Biochemical Diagnosis of Chromaffin Cell Tumors in Patients at High and Low Risk of Disease: Plasma versus Urinary Free or Deconjugated -Methylated Catecholamine Metabolites.

Background: Measurements of plasma or urinary metanephrines are recommended for diagnosis of pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGL). What test offers optimal diagnostic accuracy for patients at high and low risk of disease, whether urinary free metanephrines offer advantages over deconjugated metanephrines, and what advantages are offered by including methoxytyramine in panels all remain unclear.

Methods: A population of 2056 patients with suspected PPGLs underwent prospective screening for disease using mass spectrometric-based measurements of plasma free, urinary deconjugated, and urinary free metanephrines and methoxytyramine.

Adrenomedullary function, obesity and permissive influences of catecholamines on body mass in patients with chromaffin cell tumours.

Background: Obesity-associated activation of sympathetic nervous outflow is well documented, whereas involvement of dysregulated adrenomedullary hormonal function in obesity is less clear. This study assessed relationships of sympathoadrenal function with indices of obesity and influences of circulating catecholamines on body mass.

Methods: Anthropometric and clinical data along with plasma and 24-h urine samples were collected from 590 volunteers and 1368 patients tested for phaeochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGL), among whom tumours were diagnosed in 210 individuals.

Hypertensive crisis in pregnancy due to a metamorphosing pheochromocytoma with postdelivery Cushing's syndrome.

Pheochromocytomas in pregnancy are rare but potentially lethal. Even rarer is the combination of pheochromocytoma in pregnancy with subsequent development of ectopic Cushing's syndrome. We report a 36-year-old woman, previously diagnosed with essential hypertension, who developed severe hypertension in pregnancy complicated by insulin-dependent gestational diabetes.

Reference intervals for plasma concentrations of adrenal steroids measured by LC-MS/MS: Impact of gender, age, oral contraceptives, body mass index and blood pressure status.

Background: Mass spectrometric-based measurements of the steroid metabolome have been introduced to diagnose disorders featuring abnormal steroidogenesis. Defined reference intervals are important for interpreting such data.

Methods: Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used to establish reference intervals for 16 steroids (pregnenolone, progesterone, 11-deoxycorticosterone, corticosterone, aldosterone, 18-oxocortisol, 18-hydroxycortisol, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, 21-deoxycortisol, 11-deoxycortisol, cortisol, cortisone, dehydroepiandrosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate, androstenedione, testosterone) measured in plasma from 525 volunteers with (n=227) and without (n=298) hypertension, including 68 women on oral contraceptives.

Plasma methoxytyramine: clinical utility with metanephrines for diagnosis of pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma.

Context: Measurements of plasma methoxytyramine, the O-methylated dopamine metabolite, are useful for detecting rare dopamine-producing pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs) and head and neck paragangliomas (HNPGLs), but utility for screening beyond that achieved using standard measurements of normetanephrine and metanephrine is unclear.

Objective: Evaluation of the additional utility of methoxytyramine compared to plasma normetanephrine and metanephrine for diagnosis of PPGLs and HNPGLs.

Design: Comparative prospective study.