Abstract:Objective To investigate the effect of unilateral adrenalectomy on adrenocortical function in the patients with primary aldosteronism (PA). Methods Seventy PA patients, who underwent unilateral adrenalectomy in the Department of Urology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from December 2014 to August 2017, were selected as the subjects. The secretion function of adrenal cortex was compared before and after surgery. Results Diastolic blood pressure, systolic blood pressure, urine aldosterone and blood aldosterone on the 14th d after operation were lower than those before operation (P < 0.05). Blood potassium and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) on the 14th d after operation were higher than those before operation (P < 0.05). Serum creatinine and cortisol on the 14th d after operation had no statistical differences from those before operation (P > 0.05). ACTHstimulated 1 mg Dexamethasone suppression test on the 14th d after operation revealed that cortisol level at each time point was lower than that before operation (P < 0.05). Conclusions Adrenocortical reserve function can be reduced by unilateral adrenalectomy in the patients with primary aldosteronism, but it has little effect on adrenocortical secretory function.