title: Reproducibility and performance of one or two samples of salivary cortisol in the diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome using an automated immunoassay system.
abstract: The purpose of this article is to evaluate the variability and reproducibility of late night salivary cortisol (LNSC) using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) and compare the accuracy of one or two samples in diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome (CS). We prospectively included 64 healthy volunteers (HV), 35 patients with clinically suspected CS (S), and 26 patients with confirmed CS. Nine patients in the CS group had 24-h urinary free cortisol (UFC) less than two times the upper limit of normal (mild CS). UFC and two consecutive LNSC (LNSC1, LNSC2) were collected at home. All patients in the S group had normal UFC and low-dose dexamethasone suppression test. No differences were found between the HV and S groups in UFC, LNSC1, and LNSC2. Intra-individual variability between the two samples of LNSC was 22% in HV (1.6-91%), 32% in the S group (1.6-144%), and 51% (1.6-156%) in the CS group. Variability was higher in CS patients than those in the HV (P < 0.001) and S groups (P = 0.05). The AUC of LNSC1 was 0.945 (IC 95% 0.880-1.004); when considering the highest LNSC, the AUC was 0.980 (IC 95% 0.954-1.007) (P < 0.01). We found 23% of discordant LNSC in the S group and 11% in the CS group. Three patients with CS had only one elevated LNSC, all of them with mild CS. Our results suggest that LNSC is variable, and reproducibility is affected in both CS and S patients. We found significant improvements in the diagnostic accuracy of the LNSC measurement by obtaining two samples.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Medicina, Department of Endocrinology, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Lira 85 piso 5, Santiago, Chile. cantonie@med.puc.cl
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Carrasco
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goycoolea
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cerda
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bertherat
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Padilla
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Meza
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wohllk
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Quiroga
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D057205:Automation, Laboratory; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003480:Cushing Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D007118:Immunoassay; D057230:Limit of Detection; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010901:Pituitary Function Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone