ADRENAL CORTICAL HORMONE EXCRETION IN ENDOCRINE AND NONENDOCRINE DISEASE AS MEASURED BY CHEMICAL ASSAY

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Abstract
The urinary excretion of formaldehydo-genic steroids has been estimated by a chemical method based on the liberation of formaldehyde from urinary extracts by treatment with periodic acid. Presumably, this method measures nonglycogenic as well as glycogenic steroids and is, therefore, not considered to be directly comparable with tests of gluconeogenesis. It is very desirable to compare the 2 types of tests in order to determine which one best indicates the activity of the adrenal glands. It is probable that neither method yields more than a rough indication of the quantity of adrenal hormones manufactured. In a small number of normal persons, the excretion of formaldehydogenic steroids was found to be from 1.0 to 1.6 mg./24 hr. In all but 1 of 11 detns. on 6 patients with Addison''s disease, the values were less than 0.65 mg./day. In 7 patients with panhypopituita-rism, the excretion was below normal in all but 1 patient who excreted 1.2 mg./day. Increased excretion occurred in patients with Cushing''s syndrome. Hypothyroidism and hy-perthyroidism were associated with decreased excretion of formaldehydogenic steroids.