The Low-Dose ACTH Test: Usefulness of Combined Analysis of Serum and Salivary Maximum Cortisol Response in Pediatrics

Heat inactivation of SARS-CoV 2 enabled the measurement of salivary cortisol during COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Salivary cortisol has become an essential tool in the management of cortisol-related disease. In 2020 the sudden outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic caused several concerns about the use of saliva, due to the risk of contamination, and a European consensus further discourage using salivary cortisol. To decrease infectious risk, we handled specimens by applying a heat treatment to inactivate viral particles, further evaluating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the use of salivary cortisol in clinical practice.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Saliva samples were exposed for 10 min at 70 °C, then cortisol was measured using LC-MS/MS. The number of salivary cortisol examinations from 2013 to 2022 was extracted from the local electronic database: those performed in 2019, 2020, and 2021 were analyzed and compared with the historical data.

RESULTS

During 2020 we observed a decrease of 408 (-20%) examinations (p = 0.05) compared to 2019; especially in salivary cortisol daily rhythm and salivary cortisol/cortisone ratio (respectively reduction of 47% and 88%, p = 0.003 and p = 0.001). Analyzing year 2021 compared with 2020 we reported an increase of 420 examinations (+20%, p = 0.01), with a complete recovery of salivary cortisol measurement (considering 2019: p = 0.71). Major differences were observed between morning salivary cortisol (-20%, p = 0.017), LNSC (-21%, p = 0.012) and salivary cortisol rhythm (-22%, p = 0.056). No Sars-Cov2 infections related to working exposure were reported among laboratory's employers.

CONCLUSIONS

We speculate that the adoption of an appropriate technique to inactivate viral particles in saliva specimens allowed the safety maintenance of salivary collections, also during the Sars-CoV-2 outbreak.

The Reliability of Salivary Cortisol Compared to Serum Cortisol for Diagnosing Adrenal Insufficiency with the Gold Standard ACTH Stimulation Test in Children

The ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone) stimulation test is the gold standard for the diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency (AI), performed with ACTH high dose (HDT) or low dose (LDT). As salivary cortisol has been proposed as an alternative to serum cortisol, our aim was to evaluate the reliability of salivary cortisol compared to serum cortisol for diagnosing AI in children. Data were collected retrospectively. Salivary and serum cortisol values derived by 80 ACTH stimulation tests were obtained (39 F, 36 M; median age 11.5 years, IQR 6.9). Sampling was performed at baseline and after 30 and 60 min from ACTH administration during the HDT, and at baseline and 10, 20, 30, 40 and 60 min after the stimulation for the LDT. A serum cortisol level > 420 nmol/L ruled out AI. The correlation coefficients between serum and salivary cortisol for the HDT (n = 24) were 0.80 at t0, 0.48 at t30 and 0.75 at t60. All patients were adrenal sufficient. In 41% of the LDT, peak serum cortisol indicated insufficient adrenal function. The correlation coefficients between serum and salivary cortisol were 0.59 at t0 and 0.33 at the peak. For a cut-off of salivary cortisol < 15 nmol/L, sensitivity was 73.9% and specificity 69.6%. Our data do not support salivary cortisol as a valid alternative to serum cortisol during LDT. Regarding the HDT, results are more encouraging, however, further studies are needed.

Pediatric adrenocortical tumors cohort characteristics and long-term follow-up at a single Argentinian tertiary center

Pediatric adrenocortical tumors are rare and heterogeneous endocrine malignancies.

OBJECTIVES

To report clinical, biochemical, and histological features, staging, and therapeutic interventions in a cohort of 28 patients treated at a single tertiary center.

METHODS

A retrospective review of medical records of children with PACT (diagnosed before <18 years of age) followed between 1987-2018 at Hospital de Pediatría Garrahan, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

RESULTS

Mean age at diagnosis was 4.6 years (range, 0.3-17.3 years) and median follow-up was 4.17 years (range, 0-12 years). Female to male ratio was 2.5:1. Signs and symptoms that prompted medical intervention were hormonal overproduction (57%), abdominal complaints (36%), and hypertensive encephalopathy (7%). In patients with clinically virilizing tumors (n=16) mean height standard deviation score (SDS) and bone age advance were significantly higher while body mass index (BMI) SDS was significantly lower than in those with clinical Cushing's (n=10) (p<0.05). Serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) levels were significantly higher in stage IV than in stage I (p=0.03). Total adrenalectomy was performed in 26 patients. Eight patients (stage III-IV) received adjuvant chemotherapy. Five-year overall and disease-free survival were 100% for ST I-II, and 51% (95% CI 21-82) and 33% (95% CI 1.2-65) for ST III-IV, respectively (p=0.002). No statistical difference was found when comparing 2-year parameters with and without adjuvant chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Height SDS and BMI SDS seem to mirror hormonal secretion in pediatric adrenocortical tumors. Higher DHEAS levels were found in patients with more advanced disease. Further large-scale studies are needed to validate a possible role for DHEAS as a biochemical marker of tumor stage and to draw robust conclusions on the use of adjuvant chemotherapy.

Glucocorticoid induced adrenal insufficiency in children: Morning cortisol values to avoid LDSST

OBJECTIVES

Glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency (GI-AI) is a common side effect of glucocorticoid therapy. However, its diagnosis currently relies on the realization of a Low Dose Short Synacthen Test (LD-SST) that requires an outpatient hospital and several blood samples. Our goal was to evaluate whether morning cortisol values could predict the response to LD-SST, in children, to avoid useless dynamic tests and facilitate diagnosis of glucocorticoid induced adrenal insufficiency.

STUDY DESIGN

We recorded data of 91 pediatric patients who underwent a LD-SST in our center between 2016 and 2020 in a retrospective observational study. We selected LD-SST realized following administration of supra-physiologic doses of glucocorticoids during more than 3 weeks and performed at least four weeks after treatment was stopped. Adrenal deficiency was defined as a plasma cortisol concentration inferior to 500 nmol/l at LD-SST.

RESULTS

Glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency was diagnosed in 60% of our cohort. Morning cortisol values were predictive of the response to the LD-SST (AUC ROC 0.78). A plasma cortisol concentration of less than 144 nmol/l predicted glucocorticoid induced adrenal insufficiency with a specificity of 94% and a value over 317 nmol/l predicted recovery of the HPA axis with a sensitivity of 95%. We did not find any other predictive factor for glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency.

CONCLUSIONS

Morning cortisol values can safely assess recovery of the HPA axis in children treated chronically with glucocorticoids. Using these thresholds, more than 50% of LD-SST could be avoided in children.

Low-dose short synacthen test with salivary cortisol in patients with suspected central adrenal insufficiency

CONTEXT

The low-dose short synacthen test (LDSST) is recommended for patients with suspected central adrenal insufficiency (AI) if their basal serum cortisol (F) levels are not indicative of an intact hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate diagnostic threshold for salivary F before and 30 min after administering 1 μg of synacthen, performed before 09:30 h.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study from 2014 to 2020.

SETTING

A tertiary referral university hospital.

PATIENTS

In this study, 174 patients with suspected AI, 37 with central AI and 137 adrenal sufficient (AS), were included.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

The diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity (SE), specificity (SP)) of serum and salivary F levels measured, respectively, by chemiluminescence immunoassay and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

RESULTS

Low basal serum or salivary F levels could predict AI. For the LDSST, the best ROC-calculated threshold for serum F to differentiate AI from AS was 427 nmol/L (SE 79%, SP 89%), serum F > 500 nmol/L reached SP 100%. A salivary F peak > 12.1 nmol/L after administering synacthen reached SE 95% and SP 84% for diagnosing central AI, indicating a conclusive reduction in the likelihood of AI. This ROC-calculated threshold for salivary F was similar to the 2.5th percentile of patients with a normal HPA axis, so it was considered sufficient to exclude AI. Considering AS those patients with salivary F > 12.1 nmol/L after LDSST, we could avoid unnecessary glucocorticoid treatment: 99/150 subjects (66%) had an inadequate serum F peak after synacthen, but salivary F was >12.1 nmol/L in 79 cases, who could, therefore, be considered AS.

CONCLUSIONS

Salivary F levels > 12.1 nmol/L after synacthen administration can indicate an intact HPA axis in patients with an incomplete serum F response, avoiding the need to start glucocorticoid replacement treatment.

Adrenal insufficiency updates in children

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The current article will review the newest diagnostic tools, genetic causes, and treatment of adrenal insufficiency in children.

RECENT FINDINGS

It is common practice to perform an adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) stimulation test when adrenal insufficiency is suspected. The indications for use of a high-dose or low-dose of synthetic ACTH in children have been refined. In addition, newer studies propose adding 15 and 30-min serum or salivary cortisol levels to the low-dose ACTH stimulation test to correctly identify adrenal insufficiency. Recent identification of genetic mutations in children with non-classic steroidogenic acute regulatory protein and other mutations associated with primary and secondary adrenal insufficiency have expanded the cause and pathophysiology of monogenic adrenal insufficiency. In addition, newer hydrocortisone formulations and delivery methods and medications to use in combination with hydrocortisone are being explored to improve treatment for children with adrenal insufficiency.

SUMMARY

Improved diagnostic aids, detection of newer genetic mutations, and better treatment options and delivery systems will help correctly identify and manage children with adrenal insufficiency to improve health outcomes and quality of life.

VIDEO ABSTRACT

http://links.lww.com/COE/A21.