title: Urinary free 11-hydroxycorticosteroid/creatinine ratios in early morning urine samples as an index of adrenal function.
abstract: Urinary free 11-hydroxycorticosteroid/creatinine ratios were determined in early morning urine samples from 113 females (age range 20-45 years) and 65 males (age range 22-45 years). Basal values in normal subjects fluctuated between 5 and 55 mumol/mol creatinine. In four patients in whom Cushing's syndrome was diagnosed, urinary free 11-hydroxycorticosteroid/creatinine ratios were greater than 85 mumol/mol creatinine. Administration of dexamethasone (0.5 mg/q.i.d.) to nine normal laboratory staff for two days resulted in a suppression of the urinary free 11-hydroxycorticosteroid/creatinine ratio to less than 50% of the mean basal value in all cases. This degree of suppression did not occur in two cases of Cushing's syndrome due to adrenal tumours.
mesh_terms: D015062:11-Hydroxycorticosteroids / Q000652:urine*; D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D000304:Adrenal Cortex Function Tests; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000652:urine; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000502:physiology*; D000308:Adrenocortical Hyperfunction / Q000175:diagnosis; D000328:Adult; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine*; D003480:Cushing Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000652:urine*; D003907:Dexamethasone; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D013048:Specimen Handling
chemical_list: D015062:11-Hydroxycorticosteroids; D003907:Dexamethasone; D003404:Creatinine