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Atkins JS, Hawley JM, Owen LJ, Clayton J, Scargill J, Keevil BG. Serum cortisol assay performance following the 1 mg overnight dexamethasone suppression test. Ann Clin Biochem 2023; 60:386-395. [PMID: 37208338 DOI: 10.1177/00045632231179560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The 1 mg overnight dexamethasone suppression test (ONDST) is recommended for the differential diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome and the investigation of adrenal incidentalomas. Despite documented variation in serum cortisol immunoassay performance, little has been published regarding its effect on the ONDST. AIMS Assess the performance of three immunoassay platforms (Roche Elecsys II, Abbott Alinity & Siemens Centaur) when compared to a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method. METHODS Samples (n = 77) sent to the laboratory as part of an ONDST were retrieved prior to disposal, anonymized, and analysed on all platforms. Samples with factors impacting immunoassay analysis quality were excluded. Results were statistically compared to an LC-MS/MS method that previously demonstrated excellent comparability to a candidate reference method. RESULTS The Roche gen II showed a mean bias of -2.4 nmol/L and a Passing-Bablok fit of y = -0.9 + 0.97x. This was not affected by sex. The Abbott showed a mean bias -18.8 nmol/L, and a fit of y = -11.3 + 0.88x. This bias was -20.7 nmol/L in females versus -17.2 nmol/L in males. The Siemens had a mean bias of 2.3 nmol/L and a fit of y = 1.4 + 1.07x. This bias was 5.7 nmol/L in males versus -1.0 nmol/L in females. CONCLUSIONS Clinicians should be aware of the method-dependent variation that exists within serum cortisol analysis during the ONDSTs. Roche and Siemens aligned more closely with LC-MS/MS while the Abbot may cause a reduction in ONDST sensitivity. This data supports assay-specific cut-offs for the ONDST.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan S Atkins
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - James M Hawley
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Laura J Owen
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Salford Royal Hospital, Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
- The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Jonathan Clayton
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Royal Oldham Hospital, Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, Greater Manchester, UK
| | - Jonathan Scargill
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Royal Oldham Hospital, Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, Greater Manchester, UK
| | - Brian G Keevil
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
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Vega-Beyhart A, Laguna-Moreno J, Díaz-Catalán D, Boswell L, Mora M, Halperin I, Casals G, Hanzu FA. Ketoconazole- and Metyrapone-Induced Reductions on Urinary Steroid Metabolites Alter the Urinary Free Cortisol Immunoassay Reliability in Cushing Syndrome. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:833644. [PMID: 35282465 PMCID: PMC8905543 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.833644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Twenty-four-hour urinary free cortisol (24h-UFC) is the most used test for follow-up decision-making in patients with Cushing syndrome (CS) under medical treatment. However, 24h-UFC determinations by immunoassays (IA) are commonly overestimated because of steroid metabolites' cross-reaction. It is still uncertain how ketoconazole (KTZ)- and metyrapone (MTP)-induced changes on the urinary steroid metabolites can alter the 24h-UFC*IA determinations' reliability. METHODS 24h-UFC was analyzed by IA and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in 193 samples (81 before treatment, 73 during KTZ, and 39 during MTP) from 34 CS patients. In addition, urinary steroidome was analyzed by GC-MS on each patient before and during treatment. RESULTS Before treatment, 24h-UFC*IA determinations were overestimated by a factor of 1.75 (95% CI 1.60-1.94) compared to those by GC-MS. However, during KTZ treatment, 24h-UFC*IA results were similar (0.98:1) to those by GC-MS (95% CI, 0.83-1.20). In patients taking MTP, IA bias only decreased 0.55, resulting in persistence of an overestimation factor of 1.33:1 (95% CI, 1.09-1.76). High method agreement between GC-MS and IA before treatment (R2 = 0.954) declined in patients under KTZ (R2 = 0.632) but not in MTP (R2 = 0.917). Upper limit normal (ULN) reductions in patients taking KTZ were 27% larger when using 24h-UFC*IA compared to 24h-UFC*GC-MS, which resulted in higher false efficacy and misleading biochemical classification of 15% of patients. Urinary excretion changes of 22 urinary steroid metabolites explained 86% of the 24h-UFC*IA interference. Larger urinary excretion reductions of 6β-hydroxy-cortisol, 20α-dihydrocortisol, and 18-hydroxy-cortisol in patients with KTZ elucidated the higher 24h-UFC*IA bias decrement compared to MTP-treated patients. CONCLUSION KTZ and MTP alter the urinary excretion of IA cross-reactive steroid metabolites, thus decreasing the cross-reactive interference of 24h-UFC*IA determinations present before treatment. Consequently, this interference reduction in 24h-UFC*IA leads to loss of method agreement with GC-MS and high risk of overestimating the biochemical impact of KTZ and MTP in controlling CS because of poor reliability of reference ranges and ULN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arturo Vega-Beyhart
- Group of Endocrine Disorders, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Barcelona, Spain
- Endocrinology and Nutrition Department, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Daniela Díaz-Catalán
- Group of Endocrine Disorders, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Boswell
- Group of Endocrine Disorders, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Barcelona, Spain
- Endocrinology and Nutrition Department, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mireia Mora
- Group of Endocrine Disorders, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Barcelona, Spain
- Endocrinology and Nutrition Department, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas (CIBERDEM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Irene Halperin
- Group of Endocrine Disorders, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Barcelona, Spain
- Endocrinology and Nutrition Department, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gregori Casals
- Biomedical Diagnostics Center, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Felicia A. Hanzu
- Group of Endocrine Disorders, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Barcelona, Spain
- Endocrinology and Nutrition Department, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas (CIBERDEM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- *Correspondence: Felicia A. Hanzu,
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Majumder S, Chakraborty PP, Ghosh PC, Bera M. Differentiating 11β-hydroxylase deficiency from primary glucocorticoid resistance syndrome in male precocity: real challenge in low-income countries. BMJ Case Rep 2020; 13:13/2/e233722. [DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2019-233722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 11β-hydroxylase deficiency (11-BHD) and primary glucocorticoid resistance syndrome (PGRS) are two relatively uncommon causes of gonadotropin-releasing hormone-independent isosexual male precocity; PGRS, however, is considerably rarer than 11-BHD. Other than serum and urinary cortisol, which are elevated in PGRS and low/low–normal in 11-BHD, both of these conditions are indistinguishable by clinical, biochemical or radiological parameters. In 11-BHD, oxidation of 11-deoxycortisol (11-DOC) to cortisol is impaired, resulting in accumulation of 11-DOC and other cortisol precursors. 11-DOC shares structural homology with cortisol, and falsely elevated serum cortisol values are observed in older generation immunoassays (Siemens ADVIA Centaur) due to antibody cross-reactivity. 11-BHD, thus, may be misdiagnosed as PGRS. Structure-based cortisol assays are not widely available in low-income countries. Hence, immunoassays using highly specific antibodies against cortisol are required to ensure assay selectivity. Newer generation analysers probably are effective alternatives to liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry in conditions associated with 11β-hydroxylase defect.
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El-Farhan N, Rees DA, Evans C. Measuring cortisol in serum, urine and saliva - are our assays good enough? Ann Clin Biochem 2017; 54:308-322. [PMID: 28068807 DOI: 10.1177/0004563216687335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 172] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Cortisol is a steroid hormone produced in response to stress. It is essential for maintaining health and wellbeing and leads to significant morbidity when deficient or present in excess. It is lipophilic and is transported bound to cortisol-binding globulin (CBG) and albumin; a small fraction (∼10%) of total serum cortisol is unbound and biologically active. Serum cortisol assays measure total cortisol and their results can be misleading in patients with altered serum protein concentrations. Automated immunoassays are used to measure cortisol but lack specificity and show significant inter-assay differences. Liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) offers improved specificity and sensitivity; however, cortisol cut-offs used in the short Synacthen and Dexamethasone suppression tests are yet to be validated for these assays. Urine free cortisol is used to screen for Cushing's syndrome. Unbound cortisol is excreted unchanged in the urine and 24-h urine free cortisol correlates well with mean serum-free cortisol in conditions of cortisol excess. Urine free cortisol is measured predominantly by immunoassay or LC-MS/MS. Salivary cortisol also reflects changes in unbound serum cortisol and offers a reliable alternative to measuring free cortisol in serum. LC-MS/MS is the method of choice for measuring salivary cortisol; however, its use is limited by the lack of a single, validated reference range and poorly standardized assays. This review examines the methods available for measuring cortisol in serum, urine and saliva, explores cortisol in disease and considers the difficulties of measuring cortisol in acutely unwell patients and in neonates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia El-Farhan
- 1 Biochemistry Department, Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport, UK
| | - D Aled Rees
- 2 Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Carol Evans
- 3 Department of Medical Biochemistry and Immunology, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK
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Perogamvros I, Ray DW, Trainer PJ. Regulation of cortisol bioavailability--effects on hormone measurement and action. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2012; 8:717-27. [PMID: 22890008 DOI: 10.1038/nrendo.2012.134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Routine assessment of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis relies on the measurement of total serum cortisol levels. However, most cortisol in serum is bound to corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG) and albumin, and changes in the structure or circulating levels of binding proteins markedly affect measured total serum cortisol levels. Furthermore, high-affinity binding to CBG is predicted to affect the availability of cortisol for the glucocorticoid receptor. CBG is a substrate for activated neutrophil elastase, which cleaves the binding protein and results in the release of cortisol at sites of inflammation, enhancing its tissue-specific anti-inflammatory effects. Further tissue-specific modulation of cortisol availability is conferred by corticosteroid 11β-dehydrogenase. Direct assessment of tissue levels of bioavailable cortisol is not clinically practicable and measurement of total serum cortisol levels is of limited value in clinical conditions that alter prereceptor glucocorticoid bioavailability. Bioavailable cortisol can, however, be measured indirectly at systemic, extracellular tissue and cell levels, using novel techniques that have provided new insight into the transport, metabolism and biological action of glucocorticoids. A more physiologically informative approach is, therefore, now possible in the assessment of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which could prove useful in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilias Perogamvros
- Endocrine Sciences Research Group, School of Medicine, University of Manchester, A. V. Hill Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK.
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Strathmann FG, Hoofnagle AN. Current and future applications of mass spectrometry to the clinical laboratory. Am J Clin Pathol 2011; 136:609-16. [PMID: 21917684 DOI: 10.1309/ajcpw0ta8obbngck] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Mass spectrometry is an analytic technique with high specificity and a growing presence in laboratory medicine. Various types of mass spectrometers are being used in an increasing number of clinical laboratories around the world, and, as a result, significant improvements in assay performance are occurring rapidly in areas such as toxicology, endocrinology, and biochemical genetics. This review serves as a basic introduction to mass spectrometry, its uses, and associated challenges in the clinical laboratory and ends with a brief discussion of newer methods with the greatest potential for clinical diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrew N. Hoofnagle
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle
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Abstract
Most diseases will influence the blood biochemical homeostasis. Analysis of these biochemical modifications is used for diagnostic purposes and for follow-up of treated patients. Sometimes, however, these disease-induced blood matrix modifications interfere with bioanalytical assays. As a consequence erroneous high or low results can be reported. This article focuses on these particular problems by using examples from the literature and discussions about possible mechanisms that may explain the interferences.
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Monaghan PJ, Owen LJ, Trainer PJ, Brabant G, Keevil BG, Darby D. Comparison of serum cortisol measurement by immunoassay and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in patients receiving the 11 -hydroxylase inhibitor metyrapone. Ann Clin Biochem 2011; 48:441-6. [DOI: 10.1258/acb.2011.011014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Fanelli F, Belluomo I, Di Lallo VD, Cuomo G, De Iasio R, Baccini M, Casadio E, Casetta B, Vicennati V, Gambineri A, Grossi G, Pasquali R, Pagotto U. Serum steroid profiling by isotopic dilution-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry: comparison with current immunoassays and reference intervals in healthy adults. Steroids 2011; 76:244-53. [PMID: 21112348 DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2010.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 134] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2010] [Revised: 11/17/2010] [Accepted: 11/17/2010] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The simultaneous, rapid and reliable measurement of a wide steroid panel is a powerful tool to unravel physiological and pathological hormone status. Clinical laboratories are currently dominated by high-throughput immunoassays, but these methods lack specificity due to cross-reactivity and matrix interferences. We developed and validated an isotopic dilution-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (ID-LC-MS/MS) method for the simultaneous measurement of cortisol, corticosterone, 11deoxycortisol, androstenedione, deoxycorticosterone (DOC), testosterone, 17OHprogesterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and progesterone in serum, and compared it to routine immunoassays employed in our laboratory. We also established adult reference intervals in 416 healthy subjects. METHODS 0.9 ml of serum were spiked with labelled internal standards (IS) and extracted on C18 cartridges. Eluate was injected into a two-dimensional LC-system, purified in a perfusion column and separated on a C8 column during a 21 min gradient run. Analytes were revealed by atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) followed by multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) analysis. RESULTS Of the four immunoassays compared with the ID-LC-MS/MS method, only the results of ElecsysE170 for cortisol, testosterone in males and progesterone>1 ng/ml were in agreement with ID-LC-MS/MS. ElecsysE170 for testosterone in females and progesterone<1 ng/ml, Immulite2000 for androstenedione, DSL-9000 for DHEA and 17OHP Bridge for 17OHprogesterone, respectively, showed poor agreement. Reference intervals and steroid age and fertility related fluctuations were established. CONCLUSION Our ID-LC-MS/MS method proved to be reliable and sensitive in revealing steroid circulating concentrations in adults and in highlighting the limits of routine immunoassays at low concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flaminia Fanelli
- Centre of Applied Biomedical Research, Department of Clinical Medicine, S.Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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Current Opinion in Endocrinology, Diabetes & Obesity. Current world literature. Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes 2010; 17:293-312. [PMID: 20418721 DOI: 10.1097/med.0b013e328339f31e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Abstract
Most steroid disorders of the adrenal cortex come to clinical attention in childhood and in order to investigate these problems, there are many challenges to the laboratory which need to be appreciated to a certain extent by clinicians. The analysis of sex steroids in biological fluids from neonates, over adrenarche and puberty present challenges of specificities and concentrations often in small sample sizes. Different reference ranges are also needed for interpretations. For around 40 years, quantitative assays for the steroids and their regulatory peptide hormones have been possible using immunoassay techniques. Problems are recognised and this review aims to summarise the benefits and failings of immunoassays and introduce where tandem mass spectrometry is anticipated to meet the clinical needs for steroid analysis in paediatric endocrine investigations. It is important to keep a dialogue between clinicians and the laboratory, especially when any laboratory result does not make sense in the clinical investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- John W Honour
- Clinical Biochemistry, University College London Hospitals, London, England.
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