Cortisol binding in uremic plasma. I. Absence of abnormal cortisol binding to cortisol binding to corticosteroid-binding globulin

Lower accuracy of testosterone, cortisol, and free T4 measurements using automated immunoassays in people undergoing hemodialysis

OBJECTIVES

Hormone measurements using automated immunoassays (IAs) can be affected by the sample matrix. Liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is less affected by these matrix effects. In clinical laboratories, testosterone, cortisol and, free thyroxine (FT4) are often measured using IAs. Renal failure alters serum composition in blood samples from people undergoing hemodialysis (HDp) and have, therefore, a complex serum constitution compared to healthy controls (HC). The goal of this study was to investigate the accuracy of testosterone, cortisol, and FT4 measurements in samples of HDp and to get more insight in the interfering factors.

METHODS

Thirty serum samples from HDp and HC were collected to measure testosterone, cortisol, and FT4 using a well standardized isotope dilution (ID)-LC-MS/MS method and 5 commercially available automated IAs (Alinity, Atellica, Cobas, Lumipulse, UniCel DXI). Method comparisons between LC-MS/MS and IAs were performed using both HDp and HC samples.

RESULTS

Average bias from the LC-MS/MS was for testosterone, cortisol, and FT4 immunoassays respectively up to 92, 7-47 and 16-27% more in HDp than in HC samples and was IA dependent. FT4 IA results were falsely decreased in HDp samples, whereas cortisol and testosterone concentrations in females were predominantly falsely increased. Correlation coefficients between LC-MS/MS and IA results were lower in HDp compared to HC samples.

CONCLUSIONS

Several IAs for testosterone (in women), cortisol, and FT4 are less reliable in the altered serum matrix of samples of HDp than in HC. Medical and laboratory specialists should be aware of these pitfalls in this specific population.

Cortisol excess in chronic kidney disease - A review of changes and impact on mortality

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) describes the long-term condition of impaired kidney function from any cause. CKD is common and associated with a wide array of complications including higher mortality, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, sarcopenia, osteoporosis, aberrant immune function, cognitive impairment, mood disturbances and poor sleep quality. Glucocorticoids are endogenous pleiotropic steroid hormones and their excess produces a pattern of morbidity that possesses considerable overlap with CKD. Circulating levels of cortisol, the major active glucocorticoid in humans, are determined by a complex interplay between several processes. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) regulates cortisol synthesis and release, 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzymes mediate metabolic interconversion between active and inactive forms, and clearance from the circulation depends on irreversible metabolic inactivation in the liver followed by urinary excretion. Chronic stress, inflammatory states and other aspects of CKD can disturb these processes, enhancing cortisol secretion via the HPA axis and inducing tissue-resident amplification of glucocorticoid signals. Progressive renal impairment can further impact on cortisol metabolism and urinary clearance of cortisol metabolites. Consequently, significant interest exists to precisely understand the dysregulation of cortisol in CKD and its significance for adverse clinical outcomes. In this review, we summarize the latest literature on alterations in endogenous glucocorticoid regulation in adults with CKD and evaluate the available evidence on cortisol as a mechanistic driver of excess mortality and morbidity. The emerging picture is one of subclinical hypercortisolism with blunted diurnal decline of cortisol levels, impaired negative feedback regulation and reduced cortisol clearance. An association between cortisol and adjusted all-cause mortality has been reported in observational studies for patients with end-stage renal failure, but further research is required to assess links between cortisol and clinical outcomes in CKD. We propose recommendations for future research, including therapeutic strategies that aim to reduce complications of CKD by correcting or reversing dysregulation of cortisol.

Glucocorticoid activation by 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzymes in relation to inflammation and glycaemic control in chronic kidney disease: A cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have dysregulated cortisol metabolism secondary to changes in 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD) enzymes. The determinants of this and its clinical implications are poorly defined.

METHODS

We performed a cross-sectional study to characterize shifts in cortisol metabolism in relation to renal function, inflammation and glycaemic control. Systemic activation of cortisol by 11β-HSD was measured as the metabolite ratio (tetrahydrocortisol [THF]+5α-tetrahydrocortisol [5αTHF])/tetrahydrocortisone (THE) in urine.

RESULTS

The cohort included 342 participants with a median age of 63 years, median estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 28 mL/min/1.73 m2 and median urine albumin-creatinine ratio of 35.5 mg/mmol. (THF+5αTHF)/THE correlated negatively with eGFR (Spearman's ρ = -0.116, P = 0.032) and positively with C-reactive protein (ρ = 0.208, P < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, C-reactive protein remained a significant independent predictor of (THF+5αTHF)/THE, but eGFR did not. Elevated (THF+5αTHF)/THE was associated with HbA1c (ρ = 0.144, P = 0.008) and diabetes mellitus (odds ratio for high vs low tertile of (THF+5αTHF)/THE 2.57, 95% confidence interval 1.47-4.47). Associations with diabetes mellitus and with HbA1c among the diabetic subgroup were independent of eGFR, C-reactive protein, age, sex and ethnicity.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, glucocorticoid activation by 11β-HSD in our cohort comprising a spectrum of renal function was associated with inflammation and impaired glucose control.

Sex differences in transplantation

Sex plays a role in the incidence and progression of a wide variety of diseases and conditions related to transplantation. Additionally, a growing body of clinical and experimental evidence suggests that sex can impact the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of several commonly used immunosuppressive and anti-infective drugs in transplant recipients. A better understanding of these sex differences will facilitate advances in individualizing treatment for patients and improve outcomes of solid organ transplantation. Here, we provide a review of sex-related differences in transplantation and highlight opportunities for future research directions.

Dynamics of salivary cortisol in chronic kidney disease patients at stages 1 through 4

CONTEXT

End-stage renal disease has been associated with derangement of the HPA function. The dynamics of this axis in early stages of renal disease (CKD) has not been assessed.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate in patients with CKD at stages 1-4 (KDOQI): the diurnal variation of salivary cortisol; the suppressibility of cortisol in saliva and serum after an overnight oral 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test (1 mg DST) with simultaneous measurement of circulating dexamethasone.

DESIGN AND METHODS

80 CKD outpatients and 40 healthy subjects were included. All CKD collected whole saliva at 08·00 and 23·00 h (SAF23 ) on two nonconsecutive days. Thereafter at 08·00 h, following 1 mg DST, saliva and blood were obtained. Salivary and serum cortisol as well as CBG were assessed by RIA, dexamethasone by ELISA and serum free cortisol was calculated.

RESULTS

SAF23 correlated negatively with glomerular filtration rate (GFR). The fraction of free cortisol in serum and saliva after 1 mg DST, correlated positively and significantly in both patients with CKD and healthy subjects (r: 0·86 and r: 0·85, respectively; P < 0·0001 for both). Ten percent of CKD with GFR < 90 ml/min/1·73 m(2) had false positive results unrelated to dexamethasone and CBG concentrations.

CONCLUSIONS

False positive responses to 1 mg DST were associated with GFR < 90 ml/min/1·73 m(2) . This could not be ascribed to either defects in dexamethasone absorption or CBG concentrations. Higher dexamethasone doses were necessary to achieve adequate HPA suppression. Salivary cortisol was useful to assess circadian cortisol levels and feed-back regulation in CKD.

Adrenocortical function in hypotensive patients with end stage renal disease

BACKGROUND

Sustained hypotension among patients with end stage renal disease on dialysis (ESRDh) varies from 5.0% to 12.0%. Despite their role in the regulation of blood pressure (BP) corticoadrenal hormones have been poorly investigated.

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to detect adrenal insufficiency in ESRDh and follow their clinical outcome.

METHODS

Fifty ESRDh and 30 healthy volunteers were studied. In all cases basal blood and saliva were obtained. Synthetic ACTH (25μg) was injected intramuscularly and at 30min saliva was collected. Circulating ACTH, renin, cortisol and aldosterone were measured and steroids were also assessed in saliva by immunoassay.

RESULTS

Fifteen ESRDh achieved steroid responses not different than healthy volunteers; four had primary adrenal insufficiency; six had secondary adrenal insufficiency; nine had selective hypoaldosteronism and sixteen secondary hyperaldosteronism. The years on dialysis did not differ among subgroups. ROC analysis defined the following cut-offs for basal cortisol to predict adrenal insufficiency: in serum ⩽232.0nM (sensitivity (S) 100.0% and specificity (E) 90.0%); in saliva ⩽4.4nM (100.0% S and E). Basal aldosterone cut-off values to predict hyperaldosteronism were: in serum >500.0pM and saliva >60.0pM (100.0% S and E, for both). For the prediction of hypoaldosteronism the basal serum aldosterone was ⩽260.0pM (100% S; 53% E) and in saliva it was ⩽20.1pM (100% S; 58.5% E). Three patients with primary adrenal insufficiency and six with secondary adrenal insufficiency improved general clinical condition and normalized BP on steroids. One patient died before initiation of steroid therapy.

CONCLUSION

Adrenal function should be assessed in ESRDh in order to unmask adrenal insufficient states.

Pharmacokinetics and anti-inflammatory pharmacodynamics of prednisolone in cynomolgus monkey

The purpose was to investigate whether the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of prednisolone in the non-human primate was an appropriate surrogate for man. After single intravenous doses of 0.03, 0.3, and 3 mg kg(-1), prednisolone demonstrated a dose-dependent clearance and volume of distribution. When corrected for concentration-dependent protein binding, the free clearance was linear at the tested dose levels. The protein binding-corrected volume of distribution was similar across doses. The serum half-life was estimated as being between 2 and 4 h. Prednisolone exhibits near complete inhibition of the cytokines TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6 and IL-8 with very similar IC50 estimates from 0.09 to 0.16 microg ml(-1) (from 0.24 to 0.44 microM). The monkey demonstrated a similar pharmacokinetics-pharmacodynamics profile of prednisolone when compared with man (from the literature).

Impairment of endogenous melatonin rhythm is related to the degree of chronic kidney disease (CREAM study)

BACKGROUND

The nocturnal endogenous melatonin rise, which is associated with the onset of sleep propensity, is absent in haemodialysis patients. Information on melatonin rhythms in chronic kidney disease (CKD) is limited. Clear relationships exist between melatonin, core body temperature and cortisol in healthy subjects. In CKD, no data are available on these relationships. The objective of the study was to characterize the rhythms of melatonin, cortisol and temperature in relation to renal function in patients with CKD.

METHODS

From 28 patients (mean age 71 years) with various degrees of renal function, over a 24-h period, blood samples were collected every 2 h. An intestinal telemetric sensor was used to measure core temperature. The presence of diurnal rhythms was examined for melatonin, temperature and cortisol. Correlation analysis was performed between Cockcroft-Gault GFR (GFR), melatonin, cortisol and temperature parameters.

RESULTS

The mean GFR was 57 +/- 30 ml/min. The subjects exhibited melatonin (n = 24) and cortisol (n = 22) rhythms. GFR was significantly correlated to melatonin amplitude (r = 0.59, P = 0.003) and total melatonin production (r = 0.51, P = 0.01), but not to temperature or cortisol rhythms. Interestingly, no associations were found between the rhythms of temperature, melatonin and cortisol.

CONCLUSIONS

As melatonin amplitude and melatonin rhythm decreased with advancing renal dysfunction, follow-up research into circadian rhythms in patients with CKD is warranted.

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of systemically administered glucocorticoids

Glucocorticoids have pleiotropic effects that are used to treat diverse diseases such as asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and acute kidney transplant rejection. The most commonly used systemic glucocorticoids are hydrocortisone, prednisolone, methylprednisolone and dexamethasone. These glucocorticoids have good oral bioavailability and are eliminated mainly by hepatic metabolism and renal excretion of the metabolites. Plasma concentrations follow a biexponential pattern. Two-compartment models are used after intravenous administration, but one-compartment models are sufficient after oral administration.The effects of glucocorticoids are mediated by genomic and possibly nongenomic mechanisms. Genomic mechanisms include activation of the cytosolic glucocorticoid receptor that leads to activation or repression of protein synthesis, including cytokines, chemokines, inflammatory enzymes and adhesion molecules. Thus, inflammation and immune response mechanisms may be modified. Nongenomic mechanisms might play an additional role in glucocorticoid pulse therapy. Clinical efficacy depends on glucocorticoid pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Pharmacokinetic parameters such as the elimination half-life, and pharmacodynamic parameters such as the concentration producing the half-maximal effect, determine the duration and intensity of glucocorticoid effects. The special contribution of either of these can be distinguished with pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic analysis. We performed simulations with a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model using T helper cell counts and endogenous cortisol as biomarkers for the effects of methylprednisolone. These simulations suggest that the clinical efficacy of low-dose glucocorticoid regimens might be increased with twice-daily glucocorticoid administration.

Adrenalectomy ameliorates ablative nephropathy in the rat independently of corticosterone maintenance level

The roles of the adrenal gland and of dietary protein level in ablative nephropathy in the rat were examined by comparing adrenalectomized rats, replaced with corticosterone at low physiological (1 and 2) or high physiological (3 and 4) levels with intact rats (5 and 6). All groups were subjected to 5/6 nephrectomy and followed 12 weeks on a regular diet (2, 4 and 6) or a reduced protein diet (1, 3 and 5). Groups 1, 2, 5 and 6 all grew at the same rate but groups 3 and 4 grew less, though food intake was nearly the same in all. Higher dietary protein, higher corticosterone maintenance level, and the presence of intact adrenal glands all increased proteinuria significantly. Extracellular fluid volume (82Br space) was identical in all groups at 8 and 12 weeks, because the animals were given a choice of water or saline to drink. Mortality was highest (50%) in Group 6 and lowest (11%) in Group 1, but these differences were not significant. Final inulin clearance was significantly improved by adrenalectomy when non-survivors were scored as having zero clearance, but not if the analysis was limited to survivors. It was not affected by diet or by corticosterone level. Renal histopathological scores were also improved significantly by adrenalectomy and by protein restriction, but were not influenced by corticosterone level. Thus adrenalectomy and dietary protein restriction independently ameliorate ablative nephropathy, but corticosterone replacement level has no effects, except on proteinuria.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Progression of chronic renal failure is related to glucocorticoid production

Progression of chronic renal failure during 35 treatment periods in 27 patients was measured as the rate of change of bimonthly radioisotope GFR for an average of 15 months. Treatments were comprised of: (1) mild protein restriction; (2) more severe protein and phosphorus restriction plus essential amino acids; or (3) the same diet plus ketoacids. Progression was significantly (P less than 0.025) correlated with urinary 17-hydroxycorticosteroid excretion in all three treatment groups; overall r was 0.78 (P less than 0.0001). Multiple regression analysis showed that the following factors were not additional significant determinants of progression: urea N excretion, phosphate excretion, protein excretion, serum calcium times phosphorus product, serum alkaline phosphatase, serum uric acid, serum triglycerides, serum cholesterol, etiology, mean arterial pressure, or enalapril treatment. However, when urinary 17-hydroxycorticosteroid excretion was factored by GFR (with which it was correlated), additional significant regressors appeared: serum triglycerides and polycystic kidney disease, which tended to be associated with more rapid progression, and ketoacid treatment, which tended to be associated with slower progression. Mean 17-hydroxycorticosteroid excretion differed significantly between the three treatment groups, in the order (1) greater than (2) greater than (3) (though not when factored by GFR). Changing from essential amino acids to ketoacids (or vice versa) without change in diet was associated with lower 17-hydroxycorticosteroid excretion on ketoacids (but not when factored by GFR).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Polycystic kidney and liver disease and corticosterone changes in the cpk mouse

Mice homozygous for the mutation cpk develop a lethal infantile polycystic kidney disease (PKD) and have abnormal elevations of corticosterone in the postnatal period. We examined the development of these elevated glucocorticoid levels in early life. The histological progression of a cystic lesion of the biliary ducts in older heterozygotes was also studied. Normal mice had low (less than 85 nmol/liter) or undetectable (less than 36 nmol/liter) levels from the sixth to twelfth day of life. Corticosterone levels were significantly higher in all homozygote (cpk/cpk) and some of the normal sibs, who were presumed to be heterozygote (cpk/+) mice compared to age-matched controls from day seven to 12. Corticosterone levels were similar from the fifteenth day. A significant proportion of adult obligate heterozygotes from breeding pairs were found to have focal areas of cystic dilatation of the biliary ducts, in the absence of any renal abnormality. The incidence of this lesion increased with age (10% at 150 days, 23% at 300 days, 29% at 450 days, 65% at greater than 450 days of age). The livers of homozygote mice dying in infancy, and control adult mice of the C57BL/6J background strain were free of cysts. The finding of hepatic cysts is reminiscent of adult type PKD. The cpk model thus supports the concept that the different forms of PKD may represent varying expression of a similar gene complex.