Aldosterone

What the risks are:

• excessive bleeding
• fainting or feeling lightheaded
• hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
• infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)
• multiple punctures to locate veins

Special considerations:

Factors that can affect aldosterone measurements include strenuous exercise, acute stress, a high- or low-sodium diet, and pregnancy.

Drugs that can increase aldosterone measurements include diazoxide, hydralazine, and nitroprusside.

Drugs that can decrease aldosterone measurements include fludrocortisone and propranolol.

Veins and arteries vary in size from one patient to another and from one side of the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some people may be more difficult than from others.