Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2010; 118(2): 133-138
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1220771
Article

© J. A. Barth Verlag in Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Hair Analysis Provides a Historical Record of Cortisol Levels in Cushing's Syndrome

S. Thomson 1 , G. Koren 1 , 6 , L.-A. Fraser 2 , M. Rieder 3 , T. C. Friedman 4 , S. H. M. Van Uum 5
  • 1Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
  • 2Department of Medicine, University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
  • 3GSK-CIHR Chair in Pediatric Clinical Pharmacology University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
  • 4Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism & Molecular Medicine,The Charles Drew University of Medicine and Sciences, Los Angeles, United States
  • 5Department of Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
  • 6Ivey Chair in Molecular Toxicology
Further Information

Publication History

received 09.11.2008

first decision 09.02.2009 accepted 20.04.2009

Publication Date:
16 July 2009 (online)

Abstract

The severity of Cushing's Syndrome (CS) depends on the duration and extent of the exposure to excess glucocorticoids. Current measurements of cortisol in serum, saliva and urine reflect systemic cortisol levels at the time of sample collection, but cannot assess past cortisol levels. Hair cortisol levels may be increased in patients with CS, and, as hair grows about 1 cm/month, measurement of hair cortisol may provide historical information on the development of hypercortisolism. We attempted to measure cortisol in hair in relation to clinical course in six female patients with CS and in 32 healthy volunteers in 1 cm hair sections. Hair cortisol content was measured using a commercially available salivary cortisol immune assay with a protocol modified for use with hair. Hair cortisol levels were higher in patients with CS than in controls, the medians (ranges) were 679 (279–2500) and 116 (26–204) ng/g respectively (P<0.001). Segmental hair analysis provided information for up to 18 months before time of sampling. Hair cortisol concentrations appeared to vary in accordance with the clinical course. Based on these data, we suggest that hair cortisol measurement is a novel method for assessing dynamic systemic cortisol exposure and provides unique historical information on variation in cortisol, and that more research is required to fully understand the utility and limits of this technique.

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Correspondence

Dr. S. H. M. Van UumMD, PhD 

Department of Medicine

Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry

University of Western Ontario

St. Joseph's Health Care

Ontario

Canada

N6A4V2

Phone: 1/519/646 61 70

Fax: 1/519/646 60 58

Email: stan.vanuum@sjhc.london.on.ca