Plasma levels of aldosterone precursors (including the 18-hydroxylated compounds in this synthesis pathway)--a tool for the analysis of adrenal disorders?
Some current ideas concerning the 18-hydroxylated corticosteroids (18-hydroxycorticosterone and 18-hydroxydeoxycorticosterone) and the other steroids of the mineralocorticosteroid pathway from deoxycorticosterone (DOC) are reviewed. Then, some recent findings from our own laboratory, obtained during the analysis of all aldosterone precursors from DOC in various adrenal disorders, such as enzyme deficiencies, and particularly adrenal masses detected in patients from various hospitals in France are discussed. The findings reported here show that these specialized assays can be valuable tools to determine adrenal function in complex cases.
Aupetit-Faisant
B
B
Service de Biochimie, CHU Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.
D015069:18-Hydroxycorticosterone / Q000097:blood; D015070:18-Hydroxydesoxycorticosterone / Q000097:blood; D000307:Adrenal Gland Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000502:physiology; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000502:physiology; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007654:Ketoconazole / Q000494:pharmacology; D008797:Metyrapone / Q000494:pharmacology; D006899:Mixed Function Oxygenases / Q000172:deficiency / Q000502:physiology; D011187:Posture; D012964:Sodium / Q000502:physiology
D015070:18-Hydroxydesoxycorticosterone; D000804:Angiotensin II; D000450:Aldosterone; D015069:18-Hydroxycorticosterone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D012964:Sodium; D006899:Mixed Function Oxygenases; D007654:Ketoconazole; D004298:Dopamine; D008797:Metyrapone