Glucose Metabolism in Subjects With Aldosterone-Producing Adenomas

The week of each study period, subjects will be provided a standard 160mmol/d sodium diet for
6-8 days to control for inter-individual sodium intake.

In period 1, subjects will report after 5 days of controlled sodium diet for a hyperglycemic
clamp study (to measure insulin secretion). Subjects will continue the study diet, and then
return for a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp study (to measure insulin sensitivity).

After completion of period 1 assessment, subjects will undergo adrenalectomy by our endocrine
surgeons or initiate medical treatment, according to routine clinical care.

In period 2, the investigators will repeat the studies in the same manner as period 1, 3 to
12 months after adrenalectomy or initiation of medical treatment.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Ambulatory subjects, 18 to 70 years of age, inclusive

2. For female subjects, the following conditions must be met:

- postmenopausal status for at least 1 year, or

- status-post surgical sterilization, or

- if of childbearing potential, utilization of adequate birth control and
willingness to undergo urine beta-hcg testing on every study day.

3. Primary aldosteronism determined by both:

- Biochemical hyperaldosteronism defined as either:

1. Plasma aldosterone ≥15 ng/dL

2. or aldosterone-to-renin ratio of ≥30 if on ACE inhibitor

3. or aldosterone-to-renin ratio of ≥40 in absence of an ACE inhibitor

- Positive suppression test defined as either:

1. failure to suppress aldosterone to <7ng/dL after intravenous 0.9% saline
infusion over 2 hours

2. failure to suppress 24-hour urinary aldosterone excretion to <12 µcg with
simultaneously documented urine sodium excretion >200 mmol.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Subjects presenting with any of the following will not be included in the study:

1. Previously diagnosed type 1 Diabetes

2. Type II Diabetes, as defined by ADA criteria:

- Hemoglobin A1C ≥6.5%

- Fasting plasma glucose ≥126mg/dl (7.0mmol/l)

- 2-hour 75g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) plasma glucose ≥200mg/dl (11.1
mmol/l) d. Current treatment with anti-diabetic medication(s)

3. Impaired renal function [estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of <30ml/min] as
determined by the four-variable Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equation,
where serum creatinine (Scr) is expressed in mg/dl and age in years.

4. Prior allergies to medications used in the study protocol (e.g. L-arginine, potassium
chloride, insulin), or to drugs within the same class.

5. Screening plasma potassium >5.5 mmol/L or sodium <135 mmol/L

6. Cardiovascular disease such as recent (<6 months) myocardial infarction, presence of
angina pectoris, significant arrhythmia, congestive heart failure (LV hypertrophy
acceptable), deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, second or third degree heart
block, mitral valve stenosis, aortic stenosis or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

7. Breast-feeding

8. Treatment with anticoagulants

9. History of serious neurologic disease such as cerebral hemorrhage, stroke, seizure, or
transient ischemic attack

10. History or presence of immunological or hematological disorders

11. Diagnosis of asthma requiring use of inhaled beta agonist >1 time per week

12. Clinically significant gastrointestinal impairment that could interfere with drug
absorption

13. Impaired hepatic function [aspartate amino transaminase (AST) and/or alanine amino
transaminase (ALT) >2.0 x upper limit of normal range]

14. Hematocrit <35%

15. Any underlying or acute disease requiring regular medication which could possibly pose
a threat to the subject or make implementation of the protocol or interpretation of
the study results difficult, such as arthritis treated with non-steroidal
antiinflammatory drugs

16. Treatment with chronic systemic glucocorticoid therapy (more than 7 consecutive days
in 1 month)

17. Treatment with lithium salts

18. History of alcohol or drug abuse

19. Treatment with any investigational drug in the 1 month preceding the study

20. Mental conditions rendering the subject unable to understand the nature, scope and
possible consequences of the study

21. Inability to comply with the protocol, e.g., uncooperative attitude, inability to
return for follow-up visits, and unlikelihood of completing the study