Urinary Excretion of 6β-Hydroxycortisol in States of Altered Thyroid Function

Urinary 6β-hydroxycortisol was estimated in patients with thyroid dysfunction. Although there was no difference in the absolute excretion of 6β-hydroxycortisol between myxedematous patients and control subjects, a significantly high ratio of 6β-hydroxycortisol to 17- hydroxycorticosteroids was obtained in patients with myxedema. In sharp contrast, urinary 6β- hydroxycortisol as well as the ratio of 6β-hydroxycortisol: 17-hydroxycorticosteroids was low in hyperthyroid patients. These alterations returned to normal after treatment. Administration of cortisol resulted in a marked increase of urinary 6β-hydroxycortisol excretion in myxedematous subjects to a greater extent than in hyperthyroid and control subjects.