title: Adrenocortical dysfunction in acute medical illness.
abstract: To further characterize the adrenocortical response to acute illness, we measured basal and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-stimulated 11-deoxycortisol, androstenedione, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS). Acutely ill patients had higher ACTH-stimulated 11-deoxycortisol and androstenedione, and decreased basal and ACTH-stimulated androstenedione/cortisol and DHEAS/cortisol ratios. Our data suggest that a shift away from androgen synthesis toward the glucocorticoid pathway occurs in acute illness.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D003350:Cortodoxone / Q000097:blood; D003422:Critical Care; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000735:Androstenedione; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003350:Cortodoxone; D006854:Hydrocortisone