What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate changes in adrenal glucocorticoid and androgen metabolism during severe, prolonged illness.

May 1, 1985The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism

Evidence for Adrenocortical Adaptation to Severe Illness*

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Authors

LPLawrence N. ParkerEnvironmental Protection Agency ELEllis R. LevinHeart Failure / Cardiomyopathy ELEric T. LifrakUnited States Department of Veterans Affairs

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Implication

Comparative study reveals a metabolic shift favoring cortisol over androgens in severely ill men, suggesting an adaptive adrenocortical mechanism necessary for survival under critical stress.

Key Points

To evaluate changes in adrenal glucocorticoid and androgen metabolism during severe, prolonged illness.
Assessed 23 seriously ill men (ill for ≥1 week) and 25 age-matched control men.
Measured basal and ACTH-stimulated serum and urinary concentrations of cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA), and DHA sulfate (DHAS) via radioimmunoassay.
Basal serum cortisol was elevated in ill men (P < 0.001), while basal serum DHA-to-cortisol and DHAS-to-cortisol ratios decreased by 80.3% and 77.2%, respectively (P < 0.001).
ACTH stimulation elicited equivalent absolute cortisol increases in both groups, but the increase in DHA was 57.2% lower in the ill group (P < 0.05).
Basal daily urinary unconjugated DHA excretion was significantly lower (P < 0.05) and the urinary DHA-to-cortisol ratio was 85.4% lower in the ill group (P < 0.001).

Cite This Study

Parker et al. (1985) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a0e5c7ef59e0974004c2aaa https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem-60-5-947

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Implication

Comparative study reveals a metabolic shift favoring cortisol over androgens in severely ill men, suggesting an adaptive adrenocortical mechanism necessary for survival under critical stress.

Evidence for Adrenocortical Adaptation to Severe Illness*

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Evidence for Adrenocortical Adaptation to Severe Illness*

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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Also Consider