ADRENAL CONTRIBUTION TO PLASMA OESTROGENS IN ADRENAL DISORDERS

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Abstract
The concentrations of oestrone (Oe1) and oestradiol (Oe2) in adrenal venous and peripheral plasma (inferior vena cava, aorta and/or antecubital vein) were measured by radioimmunoassay in 8 patients in whom an adrenal disorder was suspected (group A) and 5 patients in whom an adrenal disorder was proven (group B). In group A, 6 patients had higher Oe1 concentrations in adrenal than in peripheral plasma, while 5 patients had higher Oe2 concentrations in adrenal venous plasma. In group B, in 3 of 4 patients with primary aldosteronism secondary to an adrenocortical adenoma, both Oe1 and Oe2 concentrations in the adrenal venous plasma from the side of the adenoma were greater than in peripheral plasma. A patient with Cushing's disease showed a similar gradient for Oe1 but not Oe2. The results are consistent with the following conclusions: 1) Both Oe1 and Oe2 are secreted from the adrenal in neoplastic and non-neoplastic disorders in detectable but small amounts. 2) Estimates of maximal adrenal secretion rates in 3 male patients indicate that the adrenal contribution was less than 4 % (Oe1) and less than 2 % (Oe2), of reported blood production rates of oestrogens in normal men.

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