Queen Mary study finds new treatment may cure hormone-related hypertension

A new treatment may offer a lasting cure for some people with a common hormonal cause of high blood pressure, even after stopping medication, according to a Queen Mary University of London-led study. The treatment, called extended aldosterone synthase inhibition (EASI), uses a new drug class for 6-12 months to reverse excess aldosterone production, a cause of hypertension. Published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the study followed 14 people and found sustained blood pressure improvement for up to two years post-treatment, potentially eliminating lifelong medication. High blood pressure affects millions, with 5-10% of cases caused by primary aldosteronism, where adrenal nodules overproduce aldosterone. The findings build on a 2005 mouse experiment, and researchers are now leading a larger trial called ELIXIR to confirm whether prolonged treatment can permanently cure this condition.