Circadian rhythms in plasma cortisone and cortisol and the cortisone/cortisol ratio.
We evaluated the circadian rhythms in the plasma concentrations of cortisol, cortisone and their free forms, and in the cortisone/cortisol ratios by means of reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography in normal adult subjects. Plasma concentrations of cortisone, as well as cortisol, exhibited a circadian rhythm. The ratios of cortisone/cortisol remained almost constant during the waking hours of normal subjects. Changes in the cortisone/cortisol ratios previously reported in patients with various diseases exceeded the diurnal changes detected in the present study. Thus, the determination of the cortisone/cortisol ratio provides information that is useful in assessing the adrenal function of patients with various diseases.
Nomura
S
S
Department of Pediatrics, Hiroshima University School of Medicine, Japan.
Fujitaka
M
M
Sakura
N
N
Ueda
K
K
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D003348:Cortisone / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003348:Cortisone; D006854:Hydrocortisone