ON THE RATE OF HYDROCORTISONE CLEARANCE FROM PLASMA IN PREGNANT WOMEN AND IN PATIENTS WITH LAENNEC'S CIRRHOSIS*

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Abstract
A delay in the clearance rate of hydrocortisone from plasma in late pregnancy and in cirrhosis of the liver is confirmed. Plasma 17-hydroxy-corticosteroid levels and their response to ACTH are greater than normal in late pregnancy, but normal in cirrhosis. Tetrahydrocortisone clearance rate is delayed in pregnancy, reportedly normal in cirrhosis, suggesting that the delay in hydrocortisone clearance may have a different basis in the 2 conditions. It is suggested that the elevated plasma 17-hydroxy-corticosteroid level in late pregnancy cannot be entirely accounted for by a delay in the rate of hydrocortisone clearance from plasma.