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Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2003; 111(7): 415-420
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-44288
Article

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

Adrenocortical Tumors: Prevalence of Impaired Glucose Tolerance and of “Paradoxical Rise” of Cortisol During an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test

H. Vierhapper 1 , G. Heinze 2 , A. Gessl 1 , M. Exner 3
  • 1Clinical Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine III, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
  • 2Institute for Medical Computer Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
  • 3Institute of Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnostics, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
Further Information

Publication History

Received: September 20, 2002 First decision: October 20, 2002

Accepted: February 24, 2003

Publication Date:
13 November 2003 (online)

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Abstract

Glucose tolerance and the behaviour of cortisol during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was investigated in 126 patients with adrenal “incidentalomas” (age: > 45 years) and in 129 age-matched controls. Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) was found to be more common (p < 0.02) among patients with adrenal incidentalomas. Subdividing these patients by their body weight it was found that 29 % (controls: 25 %) of those with normal body weight (BMI 20 - 25 kg/m2) had IGT/DM. In overweight (BMI 25 - 30 kg/m2) and obese patients (BMI 30 - 40 kg/m2) the share of IGT/DM was 32 % (controls: 19 %) and 66 % (controls 42 %), respectively. The prevalence of a “paradoxical” rise in serum cortisol concentrations during the OGTT was slightly higher (p < 0.05) among patients with adrenal incidentaloma than among controls. Patients as well as controls with this abnormal behaviour of cortisol were characterized by lower basal serum cortisol concentrations (p < 0.01) but no association was seen with either the presence of IGT or with post-dexamethasone concentrations of serum cortisol. Thus both in patients with and without adrenal incidentalomas abnormal glucose tolerance is an age- and weight-dependent phenomenon unrelated to the post-prandial behaviour of serum cortisol concentrations.

Key words

Adrenal incidentaloma - adrenal adenoma - impaired glucose tolerance - cortisol - age - body weight

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M. D. H. Vierhapper

Clinical Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine III
University of Vienna

Währinger Gürtel 18 - 20

1090 Wien

Austria

Phone: +43(1)404004348

Fax: + 43 (1) 4 04 00 62 10

Email: h.vierhapper@akh-wien.ac.at