CONCENTRATION OF CORTICOSTERONE AND CORTISOL IN PERIPHERAL PLASMA OF PATIENTS WITH ADRENOCORTICAL HYPERPLASIA AND NORMAL SUBJECTS

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Abstract
Peripheral plasma concentrations of cortisol and corticosterone were determined at 8 am and 5 pm in a series of 14 normal subjects and in 12 verified cases of adrenocortical hyperplasia by means of an isotope derivative method. The mean normal concentration of corticosterone was 0.56 [plus or minus] 0.21 [mu]g/100 ml at 8 am in a total number of 28 determinations, and 0.34 [mu]g/100 ml at 5 pm in a total of 13, with an unchanged normal mean cortisol/corticosterone ratio of 20. In patients with Cushing''s syndrome due to adrenocortical hyperplasia, the ratio was about 40, and the mean concentration of corticosterone was unchanged during the day. Whereas the cortisol/corticosterone ratio was widely different in different patients, it was reproducible on different mornings for individual patients with a standard error of the mean of paired determinations within 10%. A parameter is introduced called the abnormality index, i. e. the product [image] A significant correlation was found between this abnormality index and the concentrations of K and proteins in the plasma. In contrast the correlation between serum K and the 17-ketogenic steroid excretion rate per 24 hr. corresponding normal mean value, was much less significant. This finding suggests an antagonistic effect of normal concentrations to some effects of cortisol.