Improved ultrafiltration method for determining unbound cortisol in plasma.

1980 ◽  
Vol 26 (12) ◽  
pp. 1734-1737 ◽  
Author(s):  
I Jerkunica ◽  
J Sophianopoulos ◽  
D Sgoutas

Abstract We describe a modified ultrafiltration method for measuring unbound cortisol in diluted or undiluted plasma or serum. After equilibration at 37 degrees C with purified [3H]cortisol, plasma or serum with or without buffer was placed in the ultrafiltration cell and two successive 0.2-mL fractions of protein-free ultrafiltrate were obtained. Under our conditions, free ligand concentration was independent of flow rate. The second fraction (the first is discarded) was used for determining the proportion of unbound cortisol. The assay is rapid (less than 2 h), practical (no more than 1.5 mL of plasma or serum is necessary), and reproducible (CV: 4.5% within assay and 5.2% in different assays). Samples from normal men and women (blood taken at 0800 and 1600 hours), from pregnant women, and from patients with Cushing's disease and adrenal insufficiency gave results that agreed with those obtained by equilibrium dialysis.

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A521-A522
Author(s):  
Maria Fleseriu ◽  
Beverly M K Biller ◽  
Jerome Bertherat ◽  
Jacques Young ◽  
Giorgio Arnaldi ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction: During the 22-week core LINC 2 study, the oral 11β-hydroxylase inhibitor osilodrostat normalized mean urinary free cortisol (mUFC) in 79% (15/19) of patients with Cushing’s disease. This report describes long-term LINC 2 efficacy and safety results following an optional extension. Methods: Patients receiving clinical benefit at week 22 could enter the extension (that ran until Oct 22, 2019), continuing the same osilodrostat dose; dose adjustments were permitted based on efficacy and safety. Response rate (mUFC ≤ULN [controlled] or mUFC >ULN but ≥50% decrease from baseline [BL; partially controlled]) was assessed over time. Efficacy/safety were assessed for all patients from core BL until study end. Results: Of 19 enrolled patients (female:male 14:5; mean [SD] age 36.8 years [8.4]), 16 entered the optional extension and 8 of them remained on treatment until study end. Median (range) osilodrostat exposure was 282 weeks (2-351). Mean mUFC decreased from BL (9.9 x ULN) to ≤ULN by week 4 and remained stable throughout the study. All 19 patients achieved mUFC ≤ULN at least once during the study. At each assessment up to month 70 of the extension phase, 50-88% of ongoing patients were controlled, and up to 18% were partially controlled. Mean percentage change in clinical signs from BL (mean [SD]) to last assessment were: fasting plasma glucose, -10.8% (22.1) (from BL: 105.6 mg/dL [49.2]); HbA1c, -2.1% (9.0) (from BL: 5.7% [0.7]); systolic BP, -3.3% (12.6) (from BL: 132.6 mmHg [11.6]); diastolic BP, -2.0% (10.4) (from BL: 85.0 mmHg [6.5]); BMI, -5.9% (8.8) (from BL: 30.7 kg/m2 [7.0]). Overall, 9 patients discontinued treatment (n=2 core and n=7 extension), mostly because of AEs or no longer requiring treatment (n=3 each). The most common AEs during the entire treatment period were nausea (n=10), adrenal insufficiency, and headache (both n=9). AEs related to hypocortisolism and adrenal hormone precursor accumulation occurred in 11 (mostly adrenal insufficiency, n=9) and 12 patients (mostly hypertension, n=4), respectively; most were grade 1/2 and managed with dose adjustment/interruption and/or concomitant medication. Mean (SD) plasma ACTH increased from 1.8 x ULN (0.9) at BL to 7.1 x ULN (12.3) at week 22 and 6.9 x ULN (12.6) at last assessment. Mean (SD) 11-deoxycortisol increased from 1.2 x ULN (1.3) at BL to 13.6 x ULN (12.2) at week 22 and 3.6 x ULN (4.2) at last assessment. In females, mean (SD) testosterone increased from 0.8 x ULN (0.4) at BL to 2.4 x ULN (2.1) at week 22 and 1.0 x ULN (0.9) at last assessment. Two patients, both female, reported an AE of hirsutism. Conclusions: Rapid reductions in mUFC were sustained for up to 6 years of osilodrostat treatment and were accompanied by improvements in clinical signs of hypercortisolism. Osilodrostat was well tolerated, with no new safety signals during long-term treatment.


2018 ◽  
pp. bcr-2018-225867
Author(s):  
Henith Raj ◽  
Sadishkumar Kamalanathan ◽  
Jaya Prakash Sahoo ◽  
Tamilarasu Kadhiravan

An 18-year-old male with Cushing’s disease presented with generalised skin eruptions and backache. He was diagnosed with varicella infection. During the course of the illness, he developed persistent vomiting. Hormonal evaluation suggested adrenal insufficiency. MRI of brain showed features of pituitary apoplexy. Initially, he required hydrocortisone replacement. Later on his hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis recovered and he is currently asymptomatic without any treatment.


1980 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 159-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Sophianopoulos ◽  
I Jerkunica ◽  
C N Lee ◽  
D Sgoutas

Abstract We describe an ultrafiltration technique for rapidly and directly determining free triiodothyronine or free thyroxine, or both. After equilibrating serum at 37 degrees C with purified tracer of high specific activity, we placed 0.15 mL of serum in 2.8 mL of phosphate buffer (0.1 mol/L, pH 7.4) in the ultrafiltration cell and obtained successive 0.2- and 0.6-mL fractions of protein-free ultrafiltrate. Under our conditions free ligand concentration was independent of flow rate. After purifying the second fraction with protein-coated charcoal, we could determine the proportion of free triiodothyronine or free thyroxine. Samples from normal adult men and women, including women who were taking oral contraceptives or were pregnant, and from hypo- and hyperthyroid patients gave results that agreed with those obtained by equilibrium dialysis. Speed is the main advantage of the method: one technologist can complete the procedure in 2 h and, using a multi-micro-ultrafiltration system, can process many samples in one day. For laboratories where index-type reactions are performed routinely and direct free triiodothyronine or free thyroxine is determined only on selected specimens, this method is superior to dialysis. It is also very convenient for rapidly purifying tracers, to at least 97% radiochemical purity, with 94% recovery and no dilution.


1984 ◽  
Vol 106 (3) ◽  
pp. 428-432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshiyuki Maruyama ◽  
Norihiko Aoki ◽  
Yasuyuki Suzuki ◽  
Hyogo Sinohara ◽  
Toshio Yamamoto

Abstract. A radioimmunoassay for human sex-steroidbinding plasma protein (SBP) was developed. With this assay, SBP was determined in sera of 138 normal men and 169 non-pregnant women, ranging in age from 11 to 87 years. The results indicate (i) that SBP levels in both sexes increase gradually with age up to mid-eighties, (ii) that the average levels in mid-eighties are approximately twice those in early twenties, and (iii) that the average levels in women are about twice as high as those in men of corresponding age. These results may also account for the discrepancies in the previous papers regarding the normal blood levels and sexual difference of SBP in adult men and women.


2001 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
NORIYOSHI YAMAKITA ◽  
TOSHIHIRO MURAI ◽  
YUTAKA OKI ◽  
TAKASHI MATSUHISA ◽  
TOSHIFUMI HIRATA ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. 1280-1287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuelle Motte ◽  
Anya Rothenbuhler ◽  
Stephan Gaillard ◽  
Najiba Lahlou ◽  
Cécile Teinturier ◽  
...  

To investigate whether low-dose mitotane (up to 2 g/day) could be a temporary therapeutic alternative to transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) in pediatric Cushing’s disease (CD). Twenty-eight patients with CD aged 12.2 years (± 2.2) were referred to our center. We compared nine patients treated with mitotane alone for at least 6 months to 13 patients cured after surgery. Primary outcomes were changes in growth velocity, BMI and pubertal development. The following results were obtained: (1) Mitotane improved growth velocity z-scores (−3.8 (±0.3) vs −0.2 (±0.6)), BMI z-scores (2.1 (±0.5) vs 1.2 (±0.5) s.d.) and pubertal development. After 1 year on mitotane, the mean BMI z-score was not significantly different in both groups of patients. (2) Control of cortisol secretion was delayed and inconsistent with mitotane used as monotherapy. (3) Side effects were similar to those previously reported, reversible and dose dependent: unspecific digestive symptoms, concentration or memory problems, physical exhaustion, adrenal insufficiency and hepatitis. (4) In one patient, progressive growth of a pituitary adenoma was observed over 40 months of mitotane treatment, allowing selective adenomectomy by TSS. In conclusions, low-dose mitotane can restore growth velocity and pubertal development and decrease BMI in children with CD, even without optimal control of cortisol secretion. It may promote pituitary tumor growth thus facilitating second-line TSS. However, given its possibly life-threatening side effects (transient adrenal insufficiency and hepatitis), and in the absence of any reliable follow-up procedures, this therapy may be difficult to manage and should always be initiated and monitored by specialized teams.


2010 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 3-10
Author(s):  
G S Kolesnikova ◽  
N P Goncharov ◽  
M L Zhimirikina ◽  
O V Manchenko ◽  
S D Arapova ◽  
...  

The present paper deals with late results of the treatment of patients with Cushing's disease by proton beam irradiation of the pituitary gland. Retrospective analysis included results of hormonal assays in 197 patients (161 women and 36 men) with verified Cushing's disease who had undergone proton therapy at the Endocrinological Research Centre. The age of the patients prior to irradiation varied from 17 to 54 years (mean 29±12.1). Duration of the follow up period ranged from 1 to 24 years. Each patient was first examined 6 month after irradiation, then annually for 5 years, and thereafter during episodic visits to the clinic of Endocrinological Research Centre. Trophic hormones (ACTH, GH, prolactin, LH, FSH, TSH) as well as cortisol, estradiol, testosterone, and free thyroxin were determined in peripheral blood; in addition, free cortisol was measured in daily urine. ACTH and cortisol were measured twice daily (at 8 a.m. and 11 p.m.) to characterize diurnal dynamics of these hormones. Complete remission of the primary disease was documented based on the results of hormonal assays in 164 (83.6%) patients 0.5-3 (mean 1.5±1.8) years after irradiation; remission without subsequent impairment of the pituitary trophic activity was achieved in 43 (21.8%) patients. Different combinations of post-treatment side effects (hypopituitarism) were recorded in 100 (50.1%) patients while 54 (27.4%) others had only one function affected by radiation. The following disorders of hormonal function of the pituitary and peripheral glands developed: adrenal insufficiency in 58 (29.7%) patients, secondary hypothyroidism in 66 (22.8%), hypogonadism in 93 (47.4%), and hyperprolactinemia in 72 (36.7%). Adrenal insufficiency was the first adverse event to develop after proton therapy (within 0.5-12.0, mean 2.5±2.3, years). It was followed by elevation of prolactin levels and decrease of gonadotropins (within 1.0-7.2, mean 3.0±2.9, years and 0.8-11.8, mean 3.0±3.1, years respectively). Secondary hypothyroidism was the last to develop (within 1.3-12.3, mean 5.0±3.2, years after treatment). It is concluded that biochemical monitoring hormonal changes coupled to the evaluation of the patient's clinical conditions is a very important component of long-term (throughout the lifespan) dynamic observation of patients with Cushing's disease necessary for the timely detection of manifestations of hypopituitarism and initiation of relevant treatment.


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