Excretion Of Tetrahydrocortisone Research Articles

Influence of 3-Hydroxy-3-Methylglutaryl Coenzyme A Reductase Inhibitor, Pravastatin, on Corticosteroid Metabolism in Patients with Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia

The present study examined whether hypolipidemic therapy with a potent 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor, pravastatin, influences corticosteroid metabolism in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). Urinary excretion of tetrahydrocortisone, tetrahydrocortisol, 6 beta-hydroxycortisol and free cortisol were determined in 22 patients with heterozygous FH before and after pravastatin administration (10 mg/day for 2 months). Pravastatin induced a statistically significant decrease in serum total cholesterol in patients with heterozygous FH from 6.9 +/- 0.1 to 5.9 +/- 0.1 mmol/l (p less than 0.05). No significant changes were seen in the urinary tetrahydrocortisone, tetrahydrocortisol and free cortisol levels before and after pravastatin therapy. Urinary excretion of 6 beta-hydroxycortisol was significantly (p less than 0.05) increased after pravastatin administration. These results suggest that the hypolipidemic effect of pravastatin in patients with heterozygous FH does not influence the corticosteroid metabolism. The increase in urinary 6 beta-hydroxycortisol may be caused by pravastatin-induced hepatic microsomal 6 beta-hydroxylase induction.

Disturbance of cortisol production in congenital aldosterone deficiency.

ABSTRACT Cortisol production and metabolite excretion have been studied in 2 male infant siblings who manifested failure to thrive, salt wasting, elevated urinary Porter-Silber reacting steroids, and evidence of an 18-dehydrogenase defect in aldosterone biosynthesis (Pediatrics 41: 403, 1968). The present investigation demonstrates that under certain conditions cortisol production or regulation is also aberrant: (a) dexamethasone only suppressed cortisol production rate (CPR) and urinary tetrahydrocortisol (THF) and tetrahydrocortisone (THE) excretion partially in the hyponatremic state, and (b) CPR and urinary THF and THE excretion were reduced to markedly subnormal levels following initial restoration of salt balance with desoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) and NaCl. After prolonged DOCA and salt therapy, CPR and urinary cortisol metabolite excretion returned to normal and the partial resistance of CPR to dexamethasone suppression could no longer be demonstrated. These data suggest a relationship betwee...

Urinary tetrahydrocortisone and tetrahydrocortisol in infants born of mothers treated with corticosteroids during pregnancy

Summary The 24 hour excretion of tetrahydrocortisone (THE) and tetrahydrocortisol (THF) have been measured in the urine of 6 infants born of mothers who had received steroids during the later stages of pregnancy. Compared with a control group of 10 normal newborn infants, no differences were found. Of interest is the fact that THE levels were considerably greater than THF, perhaps reflecting the increased serum levels of cortisone in the neonate. Routine replacement therapy with corticoids seems unwarranted in such infants.