Effect of body mass index on the location of the right adrenal vein in patients with primary aldosteronism.

BACKGROUND

Variable location of the orifice of the right adrenal vein appears to be associated with a poor success rate of sampling, especially in less experienced hands. We described the spectrum of the location of the right adrenal vein, and identified the relation of its location to body mass index in patients with primary aldosteronism.

METHODS

and results: The study population consisted of 95 patients with primary aldosteronism who underwent adrenal venous sampling. On the basis of the anterior view of the right adrenal venogram, the cranio-caudal level of the orifice of right adrenal vein was determined relative to vertebral bodies and disks. In 93 (98%) of the 95 patients, the orifice was located at a level ranging from the upper segment of T11 to the upper segment of L1. In the remaining two patients, it was located at the level of the lower segment of T10. High body mass index was associated with the higher level of the orifice of right adrenal vein.

CONCLUSION

Our data suggested that the location of the orifice of right adrenal vein was largely related to body mass index in patients with primary aldosteronism.