Some Factors Influencing the Estimation of Urinary 17-Ketogenic Steroids

In 1952 Norymberski described a new method for the estimation of urinary corticosteroids. Essentially, the method consists in the oxidative fission of the corticosteroid side chain with sodium bismuthate; in this way certain types of corticosteroids, such as those with a dihydroxyacetone, a 17,20-glycol, or a 17,20,21-triol side chain (the so-called 17-ketogenic steroids) can be converted into 17-ketosteroids and estimated with the Zimmermann reaction. Since this method appears to involve the estimation of well characterized types of corticosteroid by a method of accepted reliability (i. e. the Zimmermann reaction) and furthermore, since the normal excretion values obtained by the use of this technique (Norymberski et al., 1953) are higher than those reported by the use of other methods, it seemed of interest to re-investigate some of the variables affecting the estimation of urinary corticosteroids by this method. The results obtained are given in the present paper as well as data on the chromatographic separation and infrared spectrographic identification of some of the end-products obtained following oxidation by sodium bismuthate of various urine specimens.