17-Oxycorticosteroids in urine
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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The reference values (norm) of 17-oxycorticosteroids in the urine: men - 8.3-27.6 μmol / day (3-10 mg / day), women - 5.5-22.1 μmol / day (2-8 mg / day).
17-Oxycorticosteroids include glucocorticosteroids and their metabolites. Excretion of 17-oxycorticosteroids is decreased in patients with chronic adrenocortical insufficiency. In case of doubt, samples with ACTH preparations should be performed. The increase in the excretion of 17-oxycorticosteroids by 1.5 times or more on the first day of the introduction of ACTH and a further increase on the 3rd day indicate a preserved functional reserve of the adrenal cortex and allow eliminating the primary adrenal insufficiency.
An increase in the excretion of 17-oxycorticosteroids is observed in the disease and Isenko-Cushing syndrome, and also quite often in alimentary-constitutional and hypothalamic-pituitary forms of obesity. For the differential diagnosis of Isenko-Cushing's disease and obesity, Liddl's dexamethasone test is used. Decrease in excretion of 17-ACS during a test of 50% or more compared to the background indicates against Itenko-Cushing's disease, while the content of 17-ACS in daily urine after the sample should not exceed 10 μmol / day. If excretion can not be reduced by 50%, or if it decreases more than 2 times but exceeds 10 μmol / day, then the diagnosis of the disease or the Itenko-Cushing syndrome is legal. For the purposes of differential diagnosis, a large dexamethasone test is performed between the disease and the Itenko-Cushing syndrome. The inhibition of excretion of 17-oxycorticosteroids by 50% or more is evidence in favor of Isenko-Cushing's disease, absence of inhibition - about the Itenko-Cushing syndrome.