Adrenalectomy May Cause Renal Impairment in Patients with Cushing’s Syndrome

In patients with Cushing’s syndrome who undergo adrenalectomy, a persistent decrease in kidney function was noted after 1 month, according to a study published in the International Journal of Urology.

In this retrospective study, 35 patients with Cushing’s syndrome and 51 patients with primary aldosteronism who underwent unilateral adrenalectomy were included. Patients were followed for >6 months and renal function was analyzed before and after surgery using the estimated glomerular filtration rate.

At 1-month follow-up, the mean estimated glomerular filtration rate significantly decreased from baseline in both groups.  In 11% of patients in the Cushing’s syndrome group and 24% of patients in the primary aldosteronism groups, postoperative renal impairment was observed.

Preoperative systolic blood pressure was found to be independently associated with postoperative renal impairment, but not with the type of the disease.

After the initial decrease in postoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate there was no further significant increase or decrease reported.

Read the full study here.

Reference

Nakamura Y, Minato Y, Yoshida S, et al. Postoperative renal impairment and longitudinal change in renal function after adrenalectomy in patients with Cushing’s syndrome. Int J Urol. 2020; DOI: doi.org/10.1111/iju.14205