title: Pathophysiology of deoxycorticosterone-secreting adrenal tumors.
abstract: Two patients with hypermineralocorticoidism due to deoxycorticosterone (DOC) excess are described. The plasma 17-deoxysteroids of the zona fasciculata (ZF), namely DOC, corticosterone, 18-hydroxydeoxycorticosterone, and 18-hydroxycorticosterone, were elevated. Plasma androgen concentrations were normal, and plasma aldosterone and renin levels were low. One patient, who had benign adrenocortical adenoma, had normal plasma cortisol levels. The other patient, who had metastatic adrenocortical carcinoma, had low plasma cortisol, presumably due to elevated plasma corticosterone levels. While tumors producing only 17-deoxysteroids are rare, they have provided new insights into the regulation of 17-deoxysteroid secretion by the ZF. Presumptive suppression of a non-ACTH factor by adenoma-produced DOC transiently impaired the early postoperative responses to ACTH of the ZF 17-deoxysteroids of the contralateral adrenal. The dissociation of 17-deoxysteroids from cortisol in normal subjects given either dexamethasone or DOC acetate provides additional evidence for such a factor.
authors.affiliation: Medical Service, San Francisco General Hospital Medical Center, California 94110.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Irony
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Biglieri
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Perloff
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rubinoff
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D000328:Adult; D000804:Angiotensin II; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003900:Desoxycorticosterone / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013256:Steroids / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D013256:Steroids; D000804:Angiotensin II; D003900:Desoxycorticosterone; D003907:Dexamethasone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone