Abstract
SUMMARY: A method for the analysis of urinary 17-hydroxycorticosteroids is described. The urinary steroids are submitted, in situ, to sodium borohydride reduction, sodium periodate oxidation and mild alkaline hydrolysis. The generated 17-ketosteroids are separated by partition chromatography into 11-deoxy and 11-oxy fractions which are separately estimated by the Zimmermann reaction. By this method it is possible to estimate the urinary metabolites of cortisol without interference by corticosteroids not oxygenated at C-11.