title: Increased cortisol excretion in chronic pain.
abstract: Urine samples were collected from 67 patients attending a Regional Pain Unit for treatment of chronic pain. Patients treated with steroids or with any signs or symptoms of Cushing's syndrome were excluded. The urine cortisol creatinine ratio was subsequently measured. Values for the urine cortisol/creatinine ratio were elevated in 31% of the patients, and grossly elevated in some. These patients could not be differentiated from those with normal ratios on the basis of pain or mood scores, cause of pain or drug therapy; they tended to have pain of shorter duration. Possible interpretations of these results are discussed.
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000652:urine*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000652:urine*
chemical_list: D003404:Creatinine; D006854:Hydrocortisone