Removing benign tumours could eliminate high blood pressure

A team of researchers say removing benign tumours in the adrenal glands could cure high blood pressure.

Having surgery to remove tiny benign tumours in the adrenal glands could eliminate high blood pressure, a study shows.

A team of researchers at the University of Cambridge and Addenbrooke's Hospital tested a group of men and women with high blood pressure to see if they had the tumours in the adrenal glands, which are hormone-producing organs found above the kidneys.

The researchers then used surgery to remove these from patients that did and examined their DNA. It was discovered that these patients had suffered an increase of the hormone aldosterone, which can raise blood pressure.

Using a PET-CT scanner, doctors would be able to detect these tumours and then arrange for patients to have keyhole surgery to remove them.

The researchers claimed that ten per cent of patients with high blood pressure could be cured if they have surgery to remove the tumours. Around 16 million people in the UK are thought to suffer from high blood pressure.