title: Serum cortisol levels in Cushing's syndrome after low- and high-dose dexamethasone suppression.
abstract: To standardize the cutoff points of serum cortisol values in the evaluation of Cushing's syndrome during a low- and high-dose dexamethasone suppression test, daily serum cortisol measurements (0800 hours and 1600 hours) and urinary 17-hydroxycorticosteroids were compared (Study A). Forty-seven subjects were studied (11 normal subjects, 15 patients with Cushing's disease, five patients with adrenal adenoma, and 16 subjects with suspected Cushing's syndrome). A serum cortisol measurement at 1600 hours of more than 5 micrograms/dL on low-dose dexamethasone suppression and more than 10 micrograms/dL on high-dose dexamethasone were ascertained to be nonsuppressed values. A baseline dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate value less than 0.4 microgram/mL indicated patients with an adrenocorticol adenoma. Study B was a prospective study of 17 patients in which no urine samples were collected. Serum cortisol levels, obtained in 1600 hours on the second day of low- and high-dose dexamethasone, accurately allowed a differential diagnosis of suspected Cushing's syndrome. Serum cortisol measurements can replace the urinary 17-hydroxycorticoid measurements in a cost-effective manner without a decrease in the degree of accuracy.
mesh_terms: D015065:17-Hydroxycorticosteroids / Q000652:urine; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003480:Cushing Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000097:blood; D003907:Dexamethasone; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D015065:17-Hydroxycorticosteroids; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D003907:Dexamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone