https://www.qmul.ac.uk/media/news/2023/smd/ten-minute-scan-enables-detection-and-cure-of-the-commonest-cause-of-high-blood-pressure.html Skip to main content Global main menu * Study Study Close menuSkip to next tab Areas of study + Foundation courses + Biological and biomedical sciences + Business and management + Chemical sciences + Comparative literature + Computer and data science + Dentistry + Drama + Economics and finance + Engineering + English + Film studies + Geography and environmental science + Global health and development + History + Law + Liberal arts + Linguistics + Materials science + Mathematics + Medicine + Modern languages and cultures + Physics and astronomy + Politics and international relations + Psychology Study at Queen Mary + Undergraduate study + Postgraduate study + Online study + International students + Short courses + A-Z undergraduate courses + A-Z postgraduate taught courses + A-Z PhD subjects + Clearing Experience Queen Mary + Why Queen Mary? + Accommodation + City campuses + Student life + The London advantage + Explore our campuses * About About Close menuSkip to next tab + About home + Giving + Welcome + How to find us + Calendar + Our history + Alumni + Local community + Global + Facts and figures + Freedom of information + Who's who + Sustainability + Arts and Culture + The Medical College of Saint Bartholomew's Hospital Trust + Equality, Diversity and Inclusion + Volunteering + Active Curriculum for Excellence * Research Research Close menuSkip to next tab Research and Innovation + Research home + Strategy, support and guidance + Research highways + Featured research + Facilities and resources + Publications + Postgraduate research degrees + News + Research impact Research by faculties and centres + Humanities and Social Sciences + Medicine and Dentistry + Science and Engineering Collaborations and partnerships + Collaborate with us + Contact us + Case studies Return to the Queen Mary University of London homepage Find an expert Search Search Queen Mary University London website [ ] Close Home Back to home Study Areas of study * Foundation courses * Biological and biomedical sciences * Business and management * Chemical sciences * Comparative literature * Computer and data science * Dentistry * Drama * Economics and finance * Engineering * English * Film studies * Geography and environmental science * Global health and development * History * Law * Liberal arts * Linguistics * Materials science * Mathematics * Medicine * Modern languages and cultures * Physics and astronomy * Politics and international relations * Psychology Study at Queen Mary * Undergraduate study * Postgraduate study * Online study * International students * Short courses * A-Z undergraduate courses * A-Z postgraduate taught courses * A-Z PhD subjects * Clearing Experience Queen Mary * Why Queen Mary? * Accommodation * City campuses * Student life * The London advantage * Explore our campuses About * About home * Giving * Welcome * How to find us * Calendar * Our history * Alumni * Local community * Global * Facts and figures * Freedom of information * Who's who * Sustainability * Arts and Culture * The Medical College of Saint Bartholomew's Hospital Trust * Equality, Diversity and Inclusion * Volunteering * Active Curriculum for Excellence Research Research and Innovation * Research home * Strategy, support and guidance * Research highways * Featured research * Facilities and resources * Publications * Postgraduate research degrees * News * Research impact Research by faculties and centres * Humanities and Social Sciences * Medicine and Dentistry * Science and Engineering Collaborations and partnerships * Collaborate with us * Contact us * Case studies News News Section home Section navigation * News stories + 2023 + 2022 + 2021 + 2020 + 2019 + 2018 + 2017 + 2016 + 2015 + 2014 + 2013 + 2012 + 2011 * Brexit * Expert comment * Find an expert * For journalists * For staff * Contact the PR team + PR team contacts Breadcrumb 1. Queen Mary University of London 2. News 3. News stories 4. 2023 5. SMD Ten-minute scan enables detection and cure of the commonest cause of high blood pressure Doctors at Queen Mary University of London and Barts Hospital, and Cambridge University Hospital, have led research using a new type of CT scan to light up tiny nodules in a hormone gland and cure high blood pressure by their removal. The nodules are discovered in one-in-twenty people with high blood pressure. Published on: 16 January 2023 Tweet Nurse taking patient's blood pressure. Credit: iStock.com Nurse taking patient's blood pressure. Credit: iStock.com Published today in Nature Medicine, the research solves a 60-year problem of how to detect the hormone producing nodules without a difficult catheter study that is available in only a handful of hospitals, and often fails. The research also found that, when combined with a urine test, the scan detects a group of patients who come off all their blood pressure medicines after treatment. 128 people participated in the study of a new scan after doctors found that their Hypertension (high blood pressure) was caused by a steroid hormone, aldosterone. The scan found that in two thirds of patients with elevated aldosterone secretion, this is coming from a benign nodule in just one of the adrenal glands, which can then be safely removed. The scan uses a very short-acting dose of metomidate, a radioactive dye that sticks only to the aldosterone-producing nodule. The scan was as accurate as the old catheter test, but quick, painless and technically successful in every patient. Until now, the catheter test was unable to predict which patients would be completely cured of hypertension by surgical removal of the gland. By contrast, the combination of a 'hot nodule' on the scan and urine steroid test detected 18 of the 24 patients who achieved a normal blood pressure off all their drugs. The research, conducted on patients at Barts Hospital, Cambridge University Hospital, and Guy's and St Thomas's, and Universities of Glasgow and Birmingham, was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and Medical Research Council (MRC) partnership, Barts Charity, and the British Heart Foundation. Professor Morris Brown, co-senior author of the study and Professor of Endocrine Hypertension at Queen Mary University of London, said: "These aldosterone-producing nodules are very small and easily overlooked on a regular CT scan. When they glow for a few minutes after our injection, they are revealed as the obvious cause of Hypertension, which can often then be cured. Until now, 99% are never diagnosed because of the difficulty and unavailability of tests. Hopefully this is about to change." Professor William Drake, co-senior author of the study from St Bartholomew's Hospital and Professor of Clinical Endocrinology at Queen Mary University of London, said: "This study was the result of years of hard work and collaboration between centres across the UK. Much of the 'on the ground' energy and drive came from the talented research fellows who, in addition to doing this innovative work, gave selflessly of their time and energy during the national pandemic emergency. The future of research in this area is in very safe hands." Minister of State for Health Will Quince said: "Around a third of adults in the UK have high blood pressure, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. That's why this technological breakthrough, made possible through government-backed funding, is hugely encouraging. "This revolutionary CT new scan has the ability to save lives by identifying nodules on the bladder which cause high blood pressure so they can be removed - curing the condition so people can live healthier, happier lives. "We are establishing the UK as a life sciences superpower - investing PS790 million to fund research into new treatments, diagnostics and medical technology to improve patients' lives and bolster the economy." In most people with Hypertension (high blood pressure), the cause is unknown, and the condition requires life-long treatment by drugs. Previous research by the group at Queen Mary University discovered that in 5-10% of people with Hypertension the cause is a gene mutation in the adrenal glands, which results in excessive amounts of the steroid hormone, aldosterone, being produced. Aldosterone causes salt to be retained in the body, driving up the blood pressure. Patients with excessive aldosterone levels in the blood are resistant to treatment with the commonly used drugs for Hypertension, and at increased risk of heart attacks and strokes. A recently completed extension to the study also evaluated a longer-lasting form of metomidate, which can be sent to any hospital in the UK with a PET CT scanner. More information Research paper: Wu et al. [11C]metomidate PET-CT versus adrenal vein sampling for diagnosing surgically curable primary aldosteronism: a prospective, within-patient trial. Related items [640-x-410-] # News story: Researchers identify protein that helps skin cancer spread throughout the body 9 January 2023 [Sarrp-640] # News story: Expanding radiation research at Queen Mary University of London 5 January 2023 [Ana-Rio-Ma] # News story: Queen Mary announces Strategic Collaboration Agreement with Envisagenics and Cancer Research Horizons 13 December 2022 For media information, contact: Press Office email: press@qmul.ac.uk Footer navigation * Accommodation * Alumni * A-Z Schools and institutes * Careers and Enterprise * Collaborate with us * Contact * Events * Global * How to find us * International students * Jobs * Library * MyQMUL * New students * News * Order a prospectus * Our brand * Parents * Professional services departments * Public Engagement * QMplus * Staff directory * Staff intranet * Strategy 2030 * Students' Union * Teachers * Term dates * Trade Union Facility Time * Accessibility * Disclaimer * Privacy and cookies * Site map * Modern Slavery Statement * Supplier fraud alert * OFS Data Contact the university Queen Mary University of London Mile End Road London E1 4NS +44 (0) 20 7882 5555 Follow us: * * * * * Back to top *