Pregnane-3α,17α,20α-Triol and Pregnane-3α,17α,20α-Triol-11-One Excretion by Patients with Adrenocortical Dysfunction1

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Abstract
Anew method suitable for the clinical estimation of these two steroids in urine is described and the excretory levels of 41 subjects detailed. The method uses enzymic hydrolysis of the steroid conjugates, chloroform extraction of the free steroids, a simple paper chromatographic separation and detection by a phosphoric acid color and fluorescence reaction. Results show that the pregnanetriolone is not excreted in detectable amounts by normal people, but is consistently present in the urine of patients with adrenocortical hyperplasia; it has not been found in the urine of patients with tumors of adrenal origin. On the other hand, high pregnanetrlol levels appear to be associated with both abnormal conditions. The character-istic finding of pregnanetriolone in cases of adrenocortical hyperplasia should be a useful diagnostic acid.