title: [Serum cortisol concentrations in acute non-critical ill patients, measured in three periods of the day].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Analysis of serum cortisol concentrations in patients with appropriate adrenocortical function and acute non-critical illness, in three periods of the day (11.30-15.00; 15.00-18.30; 18.30-22.00).
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and thirteen patients(40, 38 and 35, respectively) were evaluated at the Emergency Department. Every patient had a definite diagnosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In each period, minimum and mean serum cortisol concentrations were:8-8-8 microg/dl(220,8-220,8-220,8 nmol/l) and 27,8-24,1-29,3 microg/dl (767,3-665,2-808,7 nmol/l). No statistically significant differences were found between period means. A quarter of patients did not show serum cortisol concentrations >= 18 microg/dl (496,8 nmol/l).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Inpatients with acute disease, a random cortisol concentration below 8 microg/dL (220,8 nmol/L) is a strong presumptive evidence of adrenocortical insufficiency.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Endocrinología. Hospital San Agustín. Avilés. Asturias. cmacb@arrakis.es
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maciá Bobes
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Begoña Paredes Ojanguren
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pilar Poncela Cuesta
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asunción Alvarez Rueda
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Castaño Fernández
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Venta Obaya
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006854:Hydrocortisone