Abstract

Background: Type I familial hyperaldosteronism is caused by the presence of a chimaeric gene CYP11B1/CYP11B2 which encodes an enzyme with aldosterone synthetase activity regulated by a drenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH). Therefore, in patients with FH-I is possible to normalize the aldosterone levels with glucocorticoid treatment. Recently it has been shown that aldosterone plays a role in the production of endothelial oxidative stress and subclinical inflammation. Aim: To evaluate subclinical endothelial inflammation markers, like Mtalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) and ultrasensitive Creactive protein (usPCR), before and after glucocorticoid treatment in family members with FH-I caused by a de novo mutation. Patients and methods: We report three subjects with FH-I in a dngle family (proband, father and sister). We confirmed the presence of a chimaeric CYP11B1/CYP11B2 gene by long-PCR in all of them. Paternal grandparents were unaffected by the mutation. The proband was a 13 year-old boy with hypertension stage 2 (in agree to The Joint National. Committee. VII, JNC-VII), with an aldosterone/plasma rennin activity ratio equal, to 161. A DNA paternity test confirmed the parental relationship between the grandparents and father with the index case. MMP-9 and usPCR levels were determined by gelatin zymography and nephelometry, respectively. Results: All affected subjects had approximately a 50% increase in MMP-9 levels. Only the father had an elevated usPCR, The endothelial inflammation markers returned to normal range after glucocorticoid treatment. Conclusions: We report a family carrying a FH-I caused by a de novo mutation. The elevation of endothelial inflammation markers in these patients and its normalization after glucocorticoid treatment provides new indight about the possible deleterious effect of aldosterone on the endothelium.