title: Cortisol production rate in childhood and adolescence.
abstract: We studied the daily cortisol production rate in 33 normal children and adolescents, using a stable isotope-dilution technique employing high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Two indwelling intravenous catheters were inserted and tracer 9,12,12-2H3-cortisol (deuterated cortisol) was infused continuously for 30 hours. After 6 hours of tracer infusion to allow for equilibration, blood was obtained every 20 minutes for 24 hours. The mean (+/- SD) cortisol production rate was 9.5 +/- 2.5 mg/day (6.8 +/- 1.9 mg/m2/day). Cortisol production rate did not vary with sex or pubertal stage. These results suggest that the cortisol production rate in children and adolescents is significantly lower than previously estimated.
authors.affiliation: Developmental Endocrinology Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Linder
authors.forename: N V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Esteban
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Yergey
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Winterer
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Loriaux
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cassorla
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D006914:Hydroxysteroids / Q000652:urine; D007201:Indicator Dilution Techniques; D007554:Isotopes; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry
chemical_list: D006914:Hydroxysteroids; D007554:Isotopes; D006854:Hydrocortisone