Characterization of Cortisol Secretion Rate in Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency

Richard I Dorin; Zhi George Qiao; Matthew Bouchonville; Clifford R Qualls; Ronald M Schrader; Frank K Urban 3rd

doi:10.1210/js.2017-00198

Characterization of Cortisol Secretion Rate in Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency

J Endocr Soc. 2017 Jun 1;1(7):945-956. doi: 10.1210/js.2017-00198. eCollection 2017 Jul 1.

Authors

Richard I Dorin^{1

2}, Zhi George Qiao², Matthew Bouchonville², Clifford R Qualls³, Ronald M Schrader⁴, Frank K Urban 3rd⁵

Affiliations

¹ Medical Service, New Mexico VA Healthcare System, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87108.
² Departments of Medicine and Biochemistry, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87106.
³ Clinical and Translational Science Center, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87106.
⁴ Dialysis Clinic, Inc., Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102.
⁵ Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Florida International University, Miami, Florida 33174.

Abstract

Context: In secondary adrenal insufficiency (SAI), chronic deficiency of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) is believed to result in secondary changes in adrenocortical function, causing an altered dose-response relationship between ACTH concentration and cortisol secretion rate (CSR).

Objective: We sought to characterize maximal cortisol secretion rate (CSR_max) and free cortisol half-life in patients with SAI, compare results with those of age-matched healthy controls, and examine the influence of predictor variables on ACTH-stimulated cortisol concentrations.

Design: CSR_max was estimated from ACTH_1-24 (250 μg)_-stimulated cortisol time-concentration data. Estimates for CSR_max and free cortisol half-life were obtained for both dexamethasone (DEX) and placebo pretreatment conditions for all subjects.

Setting: Single academic medical center.

Patients: Patients with SAI (n = 10) compared with age-matched healthy controls (n = 21).

Interventions: The order of DEX vs placebo pretreatment was randomized and double-blind. Cortisol concentrations were obtained at baseline and at intervals for 120 minutes after ACTH_1-24.

Main outcome measures: CSR_max and free cortisol half-life were obtained by numerical modeling analysis. Predictors of stimulated cortisol concentrations were evaluated using a multivariate model.

Results: CSR_max was significantly (P < 0.001) reduced in patients with SAI compared with controls for both placebo (0.17 ± 0.09 vs 0.46 ± 0.14 nM/s) and DEX (0.18 ± 0.13 vs 0.43 ± 0.13 nM/s) conditions. Significant predictors of ACTH_1-24-stimulated total cortisol concentrations included CSR_max, free cortisol half-life, and baseline total cortisol, corticosteroid-binding globulin, and albumin concentrations (all P < 0.05).

Conclusions: Our finding of significantly decreased CSR_max confirms that SAI is associated with alterations in the CSR-ACTH dose-response curve. Decreased CSR_max contributes importantly to the laboratory diagnosis of SAI.

Keywords: adrenal insufficiency; computer-assisted; cosyntropin; hydrocortisone; metabolic clearance rate; multivariable analysis; numerical analysis.