J Korean Soc Endocrinol.  2000 Jun;15(2):162-169.

Usefullness of Urinary Free Cortisol Measurement in Diagnosis of Iatrogenic Cushing Syndrome

• Kim YH
• Kim SJ
• Choi DS

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Although insulin induced hypoglycemia test is a standard diagnostic method in assessment of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis, rapid ACTH stimulation test using 250microgram has been used as a first line diagnostic test especially in secondary adrenal insufficiency due to iatrogenic Cushing syndrome because it is easy and safe. However, it was suggested that a maximal cortisol response can be achieved with a much lower ACTH dose and 1microgram ACTH enhances the sensitivity without decreasing specificity of test. Also recently, there was a report that midnight to morning urine cortisol increment is more accurate, noninvasive method can be used for measurement of hypothalmo-pituitary-adrenal axis. In this study, we compared the 1microgram ACTH stimulation test with midnight to morning urinary free cortisol increment in secondary adrenal insufficiency due to iatrogenic Cushing syndrome to study the agreement of two test and accuracy of increment of urinary free cortisol in diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency.
METHODS
Double voided urine sample were collected at midnight and 8 A.M. in 12 patients who have Cushing-like feature and history of taking glucocorticoids and in 12 normal controls. Urinary free cortisol was measured and cortisol increment was defined as the morning urine free cortisol minus the midnight urine free cortisol. The 1microgram ACTH stimulation test was performed in 12 iatrogenic Cushing syndrome patients at the same day and compard with the result of cortisol increment.
RESULTS
Using the results of 12 controls, normal urine free cortisol increment was defined as greater than 165.5nmol/L(6.0microgram/dL). Subnormal cortisol response in 1microgram ACTH stimulation test was noted in 8 out of 12 patients group and urinary free cortisol increment was not observed in 7 out of 8 subnormal response group. Normal cortisol response in 1microgram ACTH stimulation test was noted in 4 out of 12 patients group and urinary free cortisol increment was observed in 3 out of 4 normal response group. So 83% of concordance rate between 1microgram ACTH stimulation test and urine free cortisol increment was recorded.
CONCLUSION
Urinary free cortisol increment has high concordance rate with 1microgram ACTH stimulation test and simple, easy test in diagnosing secondary adrenal insufficiency due to iatrogenic Cushing syndrome. Further study including more patients will be helpful to know the adequacy and reliability of test in evaluation of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis.

MeSH Terms

Adrenal Insufficiency
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
Axis, Cervical Vertebra
Cushing Syndrome*
Diagnosis*
Diagnostic Tests, Routine
Glucocorticoids
Humans
Hydrocortisone*
Hypoglycemia
Insulin
Sensitivity and Specificity
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
Glucocorticoids
Hydrocortisone
Insulin