Medical expert of the article
New publications
17-Oxycorticosteroids in urine
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
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.
[