Circadian pattern of serum androgens in women with Cushing's syndrome.
Circadian profiles of the serum levels of cortisol and five androgens were studied in 20 females including 8 controls, 7 patients with ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome and 5 with hypercortisolism due to adrenal adenoma. A significant 24-h periodicity was found for each steroid in all groups. Besides hypercortisolaemia, a significant increase of 11-hydroxyandrostenedione was shown in both forms of Cushing's syndrome. The most conspicuous finding was a decreased dehydroepiandrosterone and its sulphate in adrenal adenoma. The peaks for the studied steroids were shifted from the morning hours towards the noon in ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome and towards the evening (for cortisol) and night hours (for androgens) in adrenal adenoma.
Institute of Clinical Endocrinology, Lubochna, Slovak Republic.
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Kreze
M
M
Mikulecky
Z
Z
Putz
M
M
Moravcik
D000236:Adenoma / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000097:blood; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003480:Cushing Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D012016:Reference Values
D000728:Androgens; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone