Basal and cosyntropin-stimulated plasma cortisol concentrations, as measured by high-performance liquid chromatography, in children aged 5 months to younger than 6 years.
BACKGROUND
Topical corticosteroids are the recommended first-line treatment for all severities of persistent asthma and moderate to severe allergic rhinitis. Potential adrenal suppression resulting from corticosteroid administration necessitates monitoring of children participating in clinical studies. Measurement of pretreatment cortisol concentrations is necessary to assess effects on adrenal function.


OBJECTIVE
Plasma cortisol concentrations are assay dependent; normal reference range values must be obtained for each assay. Our objective is to provide these values for children as determined by HPLC.


METHODS
Two multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies evaluating basal and cosyntropin-stimulated morning plasma cortisol concentrations for patients aged 5 to younger than 12 months with asthma and patients aged 2 to younger than 6 yr with allergic rhinitis using HPLC were conducted.


METHODS
Main planned outcomes of these studies are reported elsewhere. This manuscript reports plasma cortisol concentration reference range values.


RESULTS
In general, mean basal plasma cortisol concentrations (n = 177) (mean +/- sd, nmol/liter) were similar among the 5 to younger than 9 months, 9 to younger than 12 months, 2 to younger than 3 yr, 3 to younger than 4 yr, 4 to younger than 5 yr, and 5 to younger than 6 yr age groups (218 +/- 149, 281 +/- 144, 257 +/- 105, 231 +/- 83, 298 +/- 118, and 237 +/- 65, respectively) and increased to comparable levels 60 min after cosyntropin stimulation (n = 178; 622 +/- 176, 638 +/- 176, 697 +/- 99, 655 +/- 103, 662 +/- 113, and 610 +/- 68, respectively). However, patients younger than 12 months had wider ranges of basal and stimulated values.


CONCLUSIONS
Basal and cosyntropin-stimulated morning plasma cortisol concentrations of children aged 5 to younger than 12 months and 2 to younger than 6 yr were consistently measurable, with the large majority similar among the age groups examined, and comparable with those reported elsewhere for adults.
Chrousos
George P
GP
First Department of Pediatrics, Athens University Medical School, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece. chrousge@med.uoa.gr
O'Dowd
Liza
L
Uryniak
Tom
T
Simpson
Brandon
B
Casty
Frank
F
Goldman
Mitchell
M
D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003366:Cosyntropin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006728:Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D006728:Hormones; D003366:Cosyntropin; D006854:Hydrocortisone