Salivary Cortisone Research Articles

8689 Salivary cortisol and cortisone levels in obese and non-obese Korean children

Abstract Disclosure: M. Jung: None. M. Kim: None. Y. Choi: None. H. Yoo: None. S. Lee: None. E. Yoo: None. Purpose: Measurement of salivary cortisol is non-invasive and the level correlates well with that of free cortisol, but data in children are insufficient. We measured salivary cortisol and cortisone levels in obese children and compared with those in non-obese healthy children. Methods: A Total of 84 (45 obese and 39 non-obese) children aged 6 to 12 years were recruited. Children with acute or chronic illness were excluded. Salivary samples were analyzed for cortisol and cortisone using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Serum cortisol levels were measured only in obese children. Results: There was no significant difference in salivary cortisol and cortisone levels between the non-obese and obese children. There was no gender difference in salivary cortisol and cortisone levels. Salivary cortisol correlated to serum cortisol levels in obese children (ρ = 0.428, P = 0.007). Salivary cortisone levels were related with salivary cortisol (ρ = 0.537, P <0.001), and inversely with sampling time range (ρ = -0.282, P= 0.009). There was no significant correlations between salivary cortisol or cortisone values and age or body mass index. Conclusions: There was no significant difference in salivary cortisol and cortisone levels between non-obese and obese children. Salivary cortisol correlated well with serum cortisol in obese children. Presentation: 6/1/2024

12383 Salivary Cortisone Measurement In Mild Autonomous Cortisol Secretion: Retrospective Single-center Cohort Study

Abstract Disclosure: C.A. Villavicencio Torres: None. Y. Chai: None. S.K. Grebe: None. T.D. Maus: None. I. Bancos: None. Background: Mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS) is diagnosed based on abnormal post-dexamethasone cortisol >1.8 mcg/dL. Late-night salivary cortisol (SalF) measurements in MACS are usually within normal ranges, and as such are not recommended by the adrenal incidentaloma guidelines. Late-night salivary cortisone (SalE) measurement may have a higher accuracy than SalF in diagnosing MACS. Objectives: To determine associations between SalF and SalE and post-dexamethasone cortisol concentrations in patients with MACS. Methods: We conducted a single-center retrospective cohort study of data between 2020-2023 that included patients with MACS who had concomitant SalF and SalE measurements at the time of diagnosis. Electronic medical records were reviewed for clinical, imaging, biochemical characteristics, and outcome data. Results: In 45 patients with MACS (31, 69% women) evaluated at a median age of 62 years (IQR 54-70), median post-dexamethasone cortisol was 3 mcg/dL (IQR 2.5-5.7), median corticotropin (ACTH) was 11 pg/mL (IQR 5.2-30), and median dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) was 47.5 mcg/dL (IQR 27.8-98.8). In 36 patients, 24h-urine cortisol was also available, with a median cortisol of 14 mcg/dL (IQR 11.3-18), normal ranges <45 mcg/24h. Median adrenal adenoma size was 2.2 cm (IQR 1.6-3.0), and median unenhanced HU was 10 (IQR -5 to 22).Median SalF was 52 ng/dL (IQR 23.9-97.5), and median SalE was 332 ng/dL (IQR 222.5-607.0), with a median SalE/SalF ratio of 6.6 (IQR 5.7-9.0). SalF was normal (<50 ng/dL) in 22 (49%) patients with MACS, without differences in the post-dexamethasone cortisol concentrations between those with normal and abnormal SalF (median of 3 mcg/dL vs 3 mcg/dL, P=0.94). SalF correlated with SalE (R2=0.83, P<0.0001). However, only SalE was associated with post-dexamethasone cortisol (R2=0.09, P=0.04). Conclusion: SalE is associated with post-dexamethasone cortisol in patients with MACS and, after an appropriate validation, may provide additional value in support of diagnosis of MACS. Presentation: 6/3/2024

Comparison of a morning serum cortisol concentration against a morning salivary cortisone concentration to predict the outcome of a short synacthen test

Comparison of a morning serum cortisol concentration against a morning salivary cortisone concentration to predict the outcome of a short synacthen test

Utility of salivary cortisol and cortisone in the diagnostics of adrenal insufficiency.

Salivary cortisol (sa-cortisol) and salivary cortisone (sa-cortisone) correlate well with serum cortisol (s-cortisol) but validated reference ranges for healthy individuals are lacking. To establish cutoff levels for sa-cortisol and cortisone following cosyntropin testing, and assess their diagnostic utility in adrenal insufficiency (AI). Steroids in saliva were assayed using liquid-chromatography tandem-mass-spectrometry (LCMS/MS) before and after administration of 250µg cosyntropin test in 128 healthy subjects (16 on oral estrogens) and 59 patients with suspected AI, of whom 26 were diagnosed with AI with conventional serum cortisol criteria. The cutoff level for AI was defined as the 2.5th centile in healthy subjects not receiving estrogens. Performance was evaluated by calculating diagnostic accuracy and analyzing receiver operating characteristic-curves. The sa-cortisol cutoff 60 minutes after cosyntropin stimulation was 12.6 nmol/L (accuracy 89%, sensitivity 85%, and specificity 90%). Sa-cortisone and the sum of sa-cortisol and cortisone exhibited poorer diagnostic performance than sa-cortisol. The correlation between sa-cortisol and s-cortisol was best described by a model incorporating two regression lines (R2 = 0.80). Segmented regression analysis identified a breakpoint at sa-cortisol 9.7 nmol/L and s-cortisol 482 nmol/L, likely corresponding to saturation of cortisol binding globulin (CBG). Healthy subjects on oral estrogens demonstrated a linear agreement between s- and sa-cortisol through all measurements. Seventeen healthy subjects repeated the test, with similar outcome, but reproducibility in terms of intraclass coefficient and correlation was poor. Sa-cortisol in cosyntropin-test has high diagnostic accuracy in detecting adrenal insufficiency, and is particularly useful in women on oral estrogens. A sa-cortisol > 12.6 nmol/L assayed with LCMS/MS 60 min after 250µg cosyntropin is normal.

Cortisol Dynamics, Quality of Life, and Fatigue following Traumatic Brain Injury in Childhood

Introduction: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of acquired neurological morbidity. The prevalence of post-traumatic hypopituitarism and associated morbidity after childhood TBI is unclear. Our study investigated long-term hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function, in a prospective childhood TBI and control cohort, using measures of cortisol/cortisone secretion (physiological and stimulated), HPA axis feedback, and exploring associations with fatigue, depression, and quality of life (QoL) outcomes. Methods: All TBI participants had data concerning severity and mechanism of TBI. All groups had clinical assessment, pituitary/brain MRI, questionnaire measures of QoL, fatigue, depression, and salivary cortisone profiles including dexamethasone suppression test. In addition, participants with moderate/severe TBI had ethical approval for baseline endocrine blood tests, overnight 12-h venous sampling of cortisol and growth hormone, and stimulated HPA axis evaluation with an insulin tolerance test (ITT). Results: Seventy-two participants with moderate/severe (n = 31, age 19.8 ± 4.2 years) or mild TBI (n = 24, age 17.8 ± 5.1 years) and matched controls (n = 17, age 18.5 ± 5.5 years) took part. Time post-TBI was 6.8–10.8 years. Baseline endocrine tests confirmed normal thyroid and posterior pituitary function. One female with moderate/severe TBI had hypogonadism. Pituitary neuroimaging was normal in all participants. In 2/25 ITT and 9/22 overnight serum profiles, peak cortisol was Conclusion: Although not as prevalent as previously reported, HPA axis dysfunction does occur in survivors of childhood TBI, confirming the need for endocrine surveillance. However, in most of our paediatric TBI survivors assessed 7–11 years post-TBI, HPA function and circadian rhythmicity were preserved or had recovered. Chronic fatigue is a common concern post-TBI, but in the majority, it is not associated with frank HPA axis dysfunction. Morning salivary cortisone levels were higher in TBI survivors (who have a high prevalence of fatigue) compared to healthy controls, despite the recognised association of chronic fatigue with cortisol hyposecretion.

Salivary Cortisol and Cortisone Can Circumvent Confounding Effects of Oral Contraceptives in the Short Synacthen Test.

Adrenal insufficiency (AI) is usually diagnosed by low plasma cortisol levels following a short Synacthen test (SST). Most plasma cortisol is bound to corticosteroid-binding globulin, which is increased by estrogen in combined estrogen-progestin oral contraceptives (COCs). Women with AI using COCs are therefore at risk of having an apparently normal plasma cortisol level during SST, which would not adequately reflect AI. This work aimed to test whether salivary cortisol or cortisone during SST is more robust against the COC effect and to calculate the lower reference limits (LRLs) for these to be used as tentative diagnostic cutoffs to exclude AI. Forty-one healthy women on COCs and 46 healthy women without exogenous estrogens underwent an SST with collection of plasma and salivary samples at 0, 30, and 60 minutes after Synacthen injection. The groups were compared using regression analysis with age as covariate and the LRLs were calculated parametrically. SST-stimulated plasma cortisol levels were significantly higher in the COC group vs controls, while mean salivary cortisol and cortisone levels were slightly lower in the COC group. Importantly, COC use did not significantly alter LRLs for salivary cortisol or cortisone. The smallest LRL difference between groups was seen for salivary cortisone. Salivary cortisol and especially salivary cortisone are considerably less affected by COC use than plasma cortisol during SST. Due to similar LRLs, a common cutoff for salivary cortisol and cortisone during SST can be used to exclude AI in premenopausal women irrespective of COC use.

Salivary cortisone as potential predictor of occupational exposure to noise and related stress.

Salivary cortisone strongly correlates with serum cortisol, and since it is less invasive to measure salivary cortisone than serum cortisol and easier than to measure cortisol in saliva, as its concentrations are much lower, we wanted to compare salivary cortisone and cortisol levels as markers of noise-induced stress reaction. The study included 104 participants aged 19-30 years, 50 of whom were exposed to occupational noise ≥85 dB(A) and 54 non-exposed, control students. All participants took samples of their saliva with Salivette® Cortisol synthetic swabs on three consecutive working days first thing in the morning. Salivary cortisone and cortisol levels were determined with high-performance liquid chromatography. In addition, they completed a 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) questionnaire, and occupationally noise-exposed participants also completed the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) questionnaire on occupational psychosocial risks. The exposed participants had significantly higher cortisone (P<0.001) and cortisol (P<0.001) levels than controls, and the correlation between cortisone and cortisol levels in the exposed participants was strong (ϱ =0.692, P<0.001), which suggests that salivary cortisone can replace cortisol measurements in saliva as a more reliable method than salivary cortisol and less invasive than serum cortisol. However, the level of perceived stress scored on PSS-10 in the exposed participants did not differ significantly from stress reported by controls, but correlated negatively with cortisone levels, which is contrary to our expectations and raises questions as to why.

Home waking salivary cortisone to screen for adrenal insufficiency in children

Home waking salivary cortisone to screen for adrenal insufficiency in children

Real world evidence supports waking salivary cortisone as a screening test for adrenal insufficiency.

Worldwide, adults and children are at risk of adrenal insufficiency largely due to infectious diseases and adrenal suppression from use of anti-inflammatory glucocorticoids. Home waking salivary cortisone is an accurate screening test for adrenal insufficiency, it has potential to reduce costs, and patients prefer it to the adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) (synacthen) stimulation test. We carried out a service evaluation of home waking salivary cortisone in clinical care to identify implementation barriers. Service evaluation in a centre where 212 patients referred for adrenal insufficiency had a waking salivary cortisone. Problems encountered during testing were recorded and patient feedback, via focus groups,collected. From all patients providing a waking salivary cortisone 55% had a normal test, 23% adrenal suppression, and 22% an equivocal result requiring a clinical centre ACTH stimulation test. The median (interquartile range [IQR]) for the time of the saliva sample was 07:40 (07:00-08:40). The median (IQR) days between collection and (i) delivery to local laboratory was1 (0.25-2) day; (ii) reporting by local laboratory was 13 (11-18) days. Patients considered the test is "easy to do" and preferred it to the inpatient ACTH stimulation test. The principal challenge to clinical implementation was results reporting to clinicians due to delays at the local laboratory. This service evaluation provides real-world evidence that home waking salivary cortisone is an effective, practical screening test for adrenal insufficiency. It identified key barriers to testing implementation that need to be addressed when introducing the test to a health service.

Extremely and very preterm children who were born appropriate for gestational age show no differences in cortisol concentrations or diurnal rhythms compared to full-term children.

The objective of this study was to compare the diurnal variations in cortisol and cortisone concentrations in serum and saliva among extremely preterm (EPT), very preterm (VPT), and full-term (FT) children, all born appropriate for gestational age (AGA). EPT, VPT, and FT children, all born AGA, were recruited from two healthcare centers. Cortisol and cortisone concentrations in serum and saliva were measured by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC‒MS). Statistical analysis was performed using nonparametric tests. A total of 101 children (5.0-8.9 years old) were included in this study: EPT=18, VPT=43 and FT=40. All groups had similar distributions in terms of age, birth weight standard deviation score (SDS) and BMI (SDS), showing no differences in serum ACTH, cortisol, or cortisone levels. Additionally, salivary cortisol and cortisone concentrations decreased significantly throughout the day (p values<0.0001). Salivary cortisol concentrations were below the limit of detection (0.55 nmol/L) before dinner andbefore bedtime in approximately one-third and two-thirds of all children, respectively. Salivary cortisone was detectable in all but one sample. The diurnal cortisol rhythm was preserved in all preterm children, regardless of their gestational age, and no differences in cortisol concentrations among the groups were found. This may have significant implications for the clinical management and follow-up of preterm individuals.

SAT299 Comparison Of Plasma Cortisol-, Salivary Cortisol- And Salivary Cortisone-response To The Short Synacthen Test In Women Using Oral Contraceptives

Abstract Disclosure: N. Bäcklund: None. S. Lundstedt: None. T. Olsson: None. P.M. Dahlqvist: None. G. Brattsand: None. Introduction: The short Synacthen test (SST) is a cornerstone in the diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency (AI). However, cortisol levels in serum or plasma may be misleadingly elevated by estrogen containing oral contraceptives (OCs), due to increased levels of cortisol binding protein (CBG). This may falsely declare a woman with AI to be cortisol sufficient. Salivary cortisol and cortisone closely correlate with the unbound fraction of plasma cortisol and is thus less likely to be influenced by variations in CBG levels. Our hypothesis was that the salivary cortisol and cortisone response to SST would be similar in women with and without OC use. Materials and methods: A standard intravenous 250 µg SST was performed in 87 women without known diseases or medications affecting the cortisol axis, 41 using OCs containing ethinylestradiol and 46 controls. Plasma cortisol was analyzed by Roche Elecsys Cortisol II assay and salivary cortisol and cortisone by LC-MS/MS in samples collected at baseline (time 0), and 30 and 60 minutes after Synacthen injection. The effect of OCs upon plasma cortisol, salivary cortisol and salivary cortisone was assessed by a two-way ANOVA with sampling time after SST as repeated measure. Results: There was an overall effect of OCs on plasma cortisol, but not on salivary cortisol or cortisone. Plasma cortisol levels were considerably higher in the OC group vs. controls at all time points; +150% at 0 minutes; +90% at 30 minutes; and +86% at 60 minutes. There was a significant interaction between OC use and sample time point for both salivary cortisol and cortisone. Mean salivary cortisol in women using OCs was 37% higher vs. controls at 0 minutes but was instead lower in the OCs group at 30 and 60 minutes after SST (-13% and -11%, respectively). Similarly, mean salivary cortisone was also slightly higher in the OC group than controls at baseline (+13%) and somewhat lower at 30 and 60 minutes (-6% and -7%). Conclusion: Plasma cortisol levels during an SST were significantly elevated in women using OCs containing estrogen whereas OC effects upon salivary cortisol and cortisone levels were modest, especially for salivary cortisone. Analysis of salivary cortisone is a promising alternative to plasma cortisol for diagnosis of AI in women using OCs. Presentation: Saturday, June 17, 2023

OR30-01 Waking Salivary 11-hydroxyandrostenedione And Cortisone As A Novel Non-invasive Test For Adrenal Insufficiency

Abstract Disclosure: N.R. Lawrence: None. B.G. Keevil: None. C. Elder: None. J. Fearnside: None. S. Caunt: None. S. Dixon: None. J.D. Newell-Price: Consulting Fee; Self; Diurnal, Recordati, Crinetics, HRA Pharma. R.J. Ross: Employee; Self; Diurnal. M. Debono: None. Background: The ACTH (Cosyntropin) stimulation test (AST) is the reference standard for diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency. We have demonstrated recently that home waking salivary cortisone accurately predicts the ACTH stimulation test outcome and confirms or excludes adrenal insufficiency in 70% of high-risk patients (in press: Home Waking Salivary Cortisone to Screen for Adrenal Insufficiency NEJM Evidence). 11-hydroxyandrostenedione (11-OHA4) is a weak adrenal androgen whose synthesis is dependent on CYP11B1. Since ACTH drives steroidogenesis, and adrenal androgens are low in patients with adrenal insufficiency, we hypothesised that waking 11-OHA4 could also predict adrenal status. Methods: A prospective, diagnostic accuracy study of waking salivary cortisone was performed in 173 patients at high risk of AI. All patients collected a salivary sample on waking, and then attended the endocrine clinic for an AST with the 30-minute cortisol used to diagnose AI. Salivary cortisone and 11-OHA4 was measured in the waking salivary sample. Biomarker discrimination was assessed by calculation of area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operator characteristics (ROC) plot. Equivocal results were defined to maintain a sensitivity of 95% and specificity of 95%, and percentage of AST saved by calculating the number of AST needed if used only in equivocal cases. Results: The median (IQR) for 11-OHA4 for patients with AI and no AI was 55 (45 to 110) pmol/l vs 508 (255 to 765) pmol/l; p&amp;lt;0.0001. Salivary 11-OHA4 on waking was highly predictive of adrenal insufficiency (R2=0.63, ROC AUC 0.94), similar to waking salivary cortisone alone (R2=0.65, AUC 0.94). Waking 11-OHA4 performed better than either serum cortisol (R2=0.65, AUC 0.88) or salivary cortisone (R2=0.74, AUC 0.93) collected at the baseline of the AST. Combining both waking salivary 11-OHA4 with waking salivary cortisone further improved discrimination (R2=0.70, AUC 0.96), and using this combination would mean that 78% of ACTH-stimulation tests could be avoided. Conclusion: Waking salivary 11-OHA4 can accurately predict AI with similar discriminatory value as waking salivary cortisone. Combining waking 11-OHA4 with waking salivary cortisone improves discrimination for adrenal insufficiency, is a simple non-invasive test that can be used widely in clinical practice in the ambulatory setting, and obviates the need for AST in 78% of cases with greater patient convenience and lower costs. Presentation: Sunday, June 18, 2023

The utility of salivary cortisone in the overnight dexamethasone suppression test in adrenal incidentalomas.

Guidelines recommend the assessment of cortisol secretion in patients with adrenal incidentalomas (AI) using the overnight dexamethasone suppression test (ONDST). This requires attendance to a health care facility and venepuncture. Alternatively, the ONDST can be done by measuring salivary cortisol and cortisone which can be collected at home. We aimed to assess the utility of these measurements in patients with AI. A retrospective analysis of data from 173 patients with AI who underwent an ONDST and salivary cortisol/cortisone diurnal studies. Serum and salivary cortisol and salivary cortisone were collected at 09:00, late night and at 09:00 post dexamethasone. Dexamethasone levels were measured in the post dexamethasone samples. Serum and salivary samples were analysed with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Stata. We identified a strong correlation between salivary cortisone and serum cortisol post 1 mg dexamethasone (r = 0.95). Stepwise multivariate regression showed that post-dexamethasone salivary cortisone, baseline serum cortisol, salivary cortisone suppression (pre: post-dexamethasone ratio) and sex as the only significant or near significant independent variables. Performance of predictive indices using these four parameters (sensitivity = 88.5%, specificity = 91.2%; kappa 0.80) and post-dexamethasone salivary cortisone alone (sensitivity = 85.3%, specificity = 91.7%; kappa 0.77) were comparable when used to predict an ONDST serum cortisol of ≤50 nmol/L.No correlation was observed with any of the other measured parameters. In AI patients, post dexamethasone, salivary cortisone correlates very strongly with serum cortisol in the ONDST and could therefore be used as an alternative sampling method which does not require venepuncture or attendance to hospital.

Evidence of persistent mild hypercortisolism in patients medically treated for Cushing's disease: the Haircush study.

Cortisol-lowering drugs may not restore a normal cortisol secretion in Cushing's disease (CD). Assess the long-term cortisol exposure in medically treated CD patients using hair-cortisol (HF) and -cortisone (HE) measurement. Multicenter prospective study. Three groups of female patients: CushMed=16 treated with a stable cortisol-lowering drug dosage and normal UFCs; CushSurg=13 cured by pituitary surgery; CushBla=15 receiving stable recommended doses of hydrocortisone following bilateral adrenalectomy. Patients were evaluated during 3 months with their usual treatments. Two late-night saliva and 24h urine samples were monthly collected in CushMed, and at study end in CushSurg and CushBla patients. A 3-cm hair sample was collected at study end in all patients. Clinical score and centralized measurement of UFC, late-night salivary cortisol (LNSF) and -cortisone (LNSE), HE, HF. Despite having almost all UFCs normalized, CushMed patients exhibited increased HE as compared to CushSurg controls (p=0.003). CushMed patients also had increased clinical score (p=0.001), UFC (p=0.03), LNSF, LNSE (p=0.0001) and variability in the latter parameters (p=0.004). CushBla patients had increased HF and HE contrasting with similar LNSE to CushSurg patients. Six of 15 CushMed patients exhibited increased HE concentrations and had increased antihypertensive drug dosage compared to CushMed patients with normal HE (p=0.05). Despite normalized UFCs, a subset of medically-treated CD patients displays an altered circadian rhythm of serum cortisol. A single HE measurement identifies chronic mild persistent hypercortisolism and could replace multiple saliva analyzes to monitor medical treatments in CD patients once UFC is normalized.

The association between the cortisol and cortisone awakening responses

The cortisol awakening response (CAR) is often assessed in the saliva and considered to be representative of serum cortisol. However, free cortisol is rapidly converted into cortisone as it passes from the serum into the saliva. Because of this enzymatic conversion, the salivary cortisone awakening response (EAR) may be more closely related to serum cortisol dynamics than the salivary CAR. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to measure the EAR and CAR in saliva and compare it to the serum CAR. MethodsMale participants (n = 12) had an intravenous catheter placed for serial serum sampling and completed two overnight laboratory sessions, wherein participants slept in the laboratory and saliva and serum samples were collected every 15 min after volitional awakening the following morning. Serum was assayed for total cortisol and saliva for cortisol and cortisone. The CAR and EAR was assessed in saliva and the CAR in serum via mixed-effects growth models and common awakening response indices (area under the curve [AUC] relative to the ground [AUCG] and relative to the increase [AUCI], and change scores [Δ]). ResultsThere was a distinct rise in salivary cortisone following awakening demonstrating the presence of a discernable EAR (βQuadratic = −41.18, [95%CI = −68.90 to −13.46], p < 0.004, Conditional R2 = 0.641). Two EAR indices (AUCG: p < 0.001 and AUCI: p = 0.030) were associated with the corresponding serum CAR indices. ConclusionWe demonstrate for the first time a distinct cortisone awakening response. The results suggest the EAR may be more closely related to serum cortisol dynamics during the post-awakening period, and thus, may be a biomarker of interest in addition to the CAR for assessing hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis functioning.

Home Waking Salivary Cortisone to Screen for Adrenal Insufficiency

BackgroundWorldwide, adults and children are at risk of adrenal insufficiency as a result of adrenal suppression from use of anti-inflammatory glucocorticoids and opiates, as well as infectious diseases. The adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) stimulation test is the reference standard for diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency but requires clinic attendance and venesection. Salivary cortisone reflects free serum cortisol, and samples can be collected at home and posted to a laboratory. We tested whether home waking salivary cortisone level could be used to screen for adrenal insufficiency.MethodsA prospective, diagnostic accuracy study was performed in patients at high risk of adrenal insufficiency. Patients collected a home salivary sample on waking and then attended the clinical facility for an ACTH stimulation test. Salivary cortisone was measured by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Receiver-operating characteristic curves were computed, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated.ResultsTwo hundred twenty patients were recruited. As measured by an ACTH stimulation test, the prevalence of adrenal insufficiency was 44%. The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve for waking salivary cortisone as a predictor of adrenal insufficiency was 0.95 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.92 to 0.97). Cutoffs to ensure a minimum of 95% sensitivity and specificity gave a negative predictive value of 96% (95% CI, 90 to 99) and a positive predictive value of 95% (95% CI, 87 to 99) to exclude and confirm adrenal insufficiency, respectively. Waking salivary cortisone data provided information similar to that of an ACTH stimulation test in 70% of participants. Eighty-three percent of patients preferred home salivary collection to clinic attendance.ConclusionsHome waking salivary cortisone sampling has accuracy for the diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency similar to that of a standard ACTH stimulation test. Patients found the at-home test to be more convenient than the hospital-based test. (Funded by the National Institute for Health Research.)

Confounding effects of liquorice, hydrocortisone, and blood contamination on salivary cortisol but not cortisone.

To determine the effects of liquorice consumption, topical hydrocortisone, and blood contamination on salivary cortisol and cortisone concentrations. Thirty healthy volunteers were randomized to a low, medium, or high dose of liquorice. Late-night saliva samples were collected using a Salivette® collection device at baseline, during 1 week of daily liquorice consumption, and during 4 weeks' washout. Saliva sampling was also performed before and after the application of topical hydrocortisone on the skin. Furthermore, in a subgroup (n = 16), saliva and venous blood were collected from each individual and mixed to achieve graded blood contamination in saliva. Salivary cortisol and cortisone were analyzed with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Significant increases in salivary cortisol concentrations were observed during medium- (+49%) and high-dose (+97%) liquorice intake, which returned to baseline 4 days after liquorice withdrawal. Topical hydrocortisone on fingers holding the collection swab increased salivary cortisol concentrations >1000-fold with concomitant pronounced elevation of the cortisol:cortisone ratio. Salivary cortisol increased significantly after contamination with blood ≥0.5%. Visual examination could safely detect these samples. Salivary cortisone concentrations were unaffected by liquorice consumption and blood contamination, and only marginally affected by topical hydrocortisone. Liquorice, topical hydrocortisone, and blood contamination may all cause elevated salivary cortisol concentrations. Improved sampling instructions and visual examination of the sample may minimize these risks. Salivary cortisone is essentially unaffected by the different preanalytical confounders and may be used as a first-line screening test for Cushing's syndrome.

The diagnostic value of salivary cortisol and salivary cortisone in patients with suspected hypercortisolism.

Diagnosing endogenous hypercortisolism remains a challenge, partly due to a lack of biochemical tests with good diagnostic accuracy. To evaluate the diagnostic value of salivary cortisol and cortisone in patients with suspected hypercortisolism. Retrospective study including 155 patients with adrenal incidentaloma, and 54 patients with suspected Cushing´s syndrome (CS). Salivary samples were collected at home, at 11 p.m., and at 8a.m. following an over-night dexamethasone suppression test (DST). Salivary cortisol and cortisone were measured with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Ten of 155 patients with adrenal incidentaloma were considered to have autonomous cortisol secretion (ACS). Using previously established cut-offs, all patients with ACS had elevated plasma-cortisol (>50 nmol/L) following DST, 9/10 had elevated late-night salivary cortisone (>15 nmol/L) whereas only 4/10 had elevated late-night salivary cortisol (LNSC; >3 nmol/L) compared to 35%, 9% and 8%, respectively, of the 145 patients with non-functioning adrenal incidentaloma. Six (60%) patents with ACS had elevated salivary cortisol and cortisone at 8a.m. following DST compared to 9% and 8%, respectively, of patients with non-functioning adrenal incidentaloma. One of 6 patients with overt CS had a normal LNSC and one had normal late-night salivary cortisone, while all had increased salivary cortisol and cortisone following DST. LNSC is not sufficiently sensitive or specific to be used for screening patients with suspected hypercortisolism. Instead, late-night salivary cortisone seems to be a promising alternative in patients with adrenal incidentaloma and salivary cortisone at 8a.m. following DST in patients with suspected CS. Larger studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Screening for adrenal insufficiency using home waking salivary cortisone is accurate and lowers NHS costs

Screening for adrenal insufficiency using home waking salivary cortisone is accurate and lowers NHS costs

Late-night salivary cortisol and cortisone should be the initial screening test for Cushing's syndrome.

Endogenous Cushing’s syndrome (CS) poses considerable diagnostic challenges. Although late-night salivary cortisol (LNSC) is recommended as a first-line screening investigation, it remains the least widely used test in many countries. The combined measurement of LNSC and late-night salivary cortisone (LNS cortisone) has shown to further improve diagnostic accuracy. We present a retrospective study in a tertiary referral centre comparing LNSC, LNS cortisone, overnight dexamethasone suppression test, low-dose dexamethasone suppression test and 24-h urinary free cortisol results of patients investigated for CS. Patients were categorised into those who had CS (21 patients) and those who did not (33 patients). LNSC had a sensitivity of 95% and a specificity of 91%. LNS cortisone had a specificity of 100% and a sensitivity of 86%. With an optimal cut-off for LNS cortisone of >14.5 nmol/L the sensitivity was 95.2%, and the specificity was 100% with an area under the curve of 0.997, for diagnosing CS. Saliva collection is non-invasive and can be carried out at home. We therefore advocate simultaneous measurement of LNSC and LNS cortisone as the first-line screening test to evaluate patients with suspected CS.