corticosterone in serum

Indications: -> concurrent measurement of corticosterone & cortisol increases sensitivity of dexamethasone suppression test in patient with endogenous depression Specimen: 1) serum 2) separate within 1 hour 3) store frozen Reference values: 1) adult (0800): 130-820 ng/dL (4-24 nmol/L) 2) adult (1600): 60-220 ng/dL (2-6 nmol/L) 3) ratio of cortisol/corticosterone (range: 6-60, mean: 21) decreases when ACTH is administered. 4) no significant change in serum corticosterone accompanies normal aging Method: RIA Increases: 1) adrenogenital syndrome with 17-hydroxylase deficiency 2) congenital 18-hydroxylation defect with salt-losing syndrome 3) adrenal adenomas

References

Clinical Guide to Laboratory Tests, 3rd ed. Teitz ed., W.B. Saunders, 1995