ALDOSTERONE, SERUM

<p>1-SST/1.0mL serum. Spin, separate and send refrigerated.</p>

 

Refrigerated 5 days, Frozen 14 days

By report*

4 days Performed Mon, Wed, Thurs

<p>Aldosterone is the main sodium-retaining hormone produced by the adrenal glands. It increases the reabsorption of sodium and water along with the excretion of potassium in the distal tubules of the kidneys. This action raises blood pressure. Serum aldosterone levels are affected by the sodium intake and whether the patient\\\'s position (upright vs. supine). The upright value (obtained after 2 hours of upright posture) should be about 2 to 5 times the supine value obtained from recumbent patient in early am before arising from bed. Patients on a low sodium diet will also have a 2 to 5 fold increase in aldosterone levels over those on a normal \\\"ad lib\\\" sodium diet, hence reference values are quite variable and difficult to establish for each patient condition. Serum aldosterone is useful to evaluate patients with hard-to-control blood pressure, orthostatic hypotension and certain fluid and electrolyte disorders. Serum aldosterone is elevated in primary hyperaldosteronism, Bartter syndrome, secondary hyperaldosteronism from cardiac or kidney disease. Cushing\\\'s syndrome, pregnancy, and in very low sodium diet. Serum aldosterone is decreased in Addison\\\'s disease, very high sodium diet, congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism. Note that other factors such as strenuous exercise, acute stress, and many medications (diuretics, lithium, calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors, propranolol, NSAID\\\'s and heparin) can also affect the serum aldosterone results.</p>

ALDOW