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free cortisol in serum
Methods: HPLC, equilibrium dialysis/RIA
Clinical significance:
- most serum cortisol is bound to corticosteroid-binding globulin & albumin. Thus free cortisol is the physiologically active form.
- diminished total, but not free cortisol may be a result of diminished serum albumin
Increases:
1) hypoglycemia
2) stress
3) ether narcosis
4) pregnancy
5) obesity
6) depression
7) hyperthyroidism
8) Cushing' syndrome
Decreases:
1) hypothyroidism
2) cirrhosis
3) hepatitis
4) adrenal insufficiency
General
special chemistry test
References
- Hamrahian AH, Oseni TS, Arafah BM.
Measurements of serum free cortisol in critically ill patients.
N Engl J Med. 2004 Apr 15;350(16):1629-38.
PMID: 15084695
- Cortisol, Free
Laboratory Test Directory ARUP: 98391