6βHydroxy cortisol: A Noninvasive Indicator of Enzyme Induction*

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
We measured urinary 6β-hydroxycortisol (6βOHF) excretion in normal children and in children receiving anticonvulsant therapy with phenobarbital or diphenylhydantoin. 6βOHF excretion increased 4- to 7-fold during anticonvulsant therapy. The marked increase in the ratios of 6βOHF to 17- hydroxycorticosteroid and 6βOHF to free cortisol suggests that the measured increase in urinary 6βOHF may serve as an index of induction of the microsomal mixed function oxidase system. This noninvasive approach allows rapid assessment of the effects of drugs and foreign compounds on microsomal hydroxylation of cortisol. This convenient probe can be applied, with particular ease, to further studies in children in whom characterization of the effects of drugs and xenobiotic compounds on hepatic hydroxylation is of interest.