Table 3.
Urinary Free Cortisol, Basal and Stimulated Adrenosteroid Response to Cosyntropin (0.01 μg/kg iv), Pituitary-Adrenal Response to Dexamethasone (8 mg iv), and Basal and Adrenocortical Stimulated Response to Cosyntropin After Dexamethasone Pretreatment
| Healthy Controls | Alcohol Dependent | t Stat | df | p Value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Urinary free cortisol (g/24 hr) | 61.4 ± 26.1 | 60.7 ± 31.9 | 0.058 | 18 | NS |
| Cosyntropin stimulation test without dexamethasone | NS | ||||
| Basal corticotropin (pg/ml) (0730–0800 hr) | 35.9 ± 10.5 | 36.9 ± 9.2 | 0.224 | 18 | NS |
| Basal cortisol (μg/dl) (0730–0800 hr) | 12.5 ± 4.1 | 9.9 ± 2.7 | 1.704 | 18 | NS |
| Cortisol binding globulin (μg/ml) (0800 hr) | 35.4 ± 8.0 | 38.2 ± 4.5 | 0.962 | 18 | NS |
| Basal free cortisol index (0730–0800 hr) | 0.5 ± 0.2 | 0.37 ± 0.1 | 2.414 | 18 | 0.027 |
| Basal aldosterone (0800 hr) (pg/ml) | 84.4 ± 56.3 | 108.0 ± 79.9 | 0.735 | 17 | NS |
| Basal androstenedione (0800 hr) (ng/ml) | 1.3 ± 0.5 | 1.6 ± 0.5 | 1.635 | 17 | NS |
| Basal dihydroepiandrosterone (0800 hr) (ng/ml) | 9.3 ± 3.3 | 8.5 ± 2.4 | 0.634 | 17 | NS |
| Basal 11-deoxycortisol (0800 hr) (ng/ml) | 1.5 ± 0.5 | 1.1 ± .3 | 2.326 | 17 | 0.033 |
| Basal progesterone (0800 hr) (ng/ml) | 0.7 ± 0.2 | 0.8 ± 0.1 | 0.786 | 17 | NS |
| Basal 17-OH-progesterone (0800 hr) (ng/ml) | 2.1 ± 1.1 | 2 ± 1.1 | 0.177 | 17 | NS |
| Net integrated cortisol response (μg/dl.2 hr) | 333 ± 378 | 242 ± 166 | 0.699 | 18 | |
| Net integrated aldosterone response (pg/ml.2 hr) | 4221 ± 3020 | 1383 ± 6187 | 1.116 | 15 | NS |
| Net integrated androstenedione response (ng/ml.2 hr) | 0.6 ± 0.4 | 0.6 ± 0.5 | 0.143 | 17 | NS |
| Net integrated dihydroepiandrosterone response (ng/ml.2 hr) | 39.8 ± 223.0 | −36.6 ± 184.5 | 0.817 | 17 | NS |
| Net integrated 11-deoxycortisol response (ng/ml.2 hr) | 29.0 ± 42.1 | 12.8 ± 14.1 | 1.153 | 17 | NS |
| Net integrated progesterone response (ng/ml.2 hr) | 20.3 ± 14.0 | 13.4 ± 20.0 | 0.872 | 17 | NS |
| Net integrated 17-OH-progesterone response (ng/ml.2 hr) | 59.7 ± 75.4 | 35.9 ± 63.0 | 0.750 | 17 | NS |
| Dexamethasone infusion | NS | ||||
| Mean basal corticotropin (pg/ml) (2200–2230 hr) | 18.3 ± 6.0 | 16.2 ± 3.6 | 0.988 | 19 | NS |
| Mean basal cortisol (μg/dl) (2200–2230 hr) | 3.1 ± 1.1 | 2.0 ± 1.0 | 2.367 | 19 | 0.03 |
| Mean ACTH response after dexamethasone (2330–0500 hr) (pg/ml) | 13.1 ± 2.5 | 9.6 ± 2.4 | 3.3 | 19 | 0.004 |
| Mean cortisol response after dexamethasone (μg/dl) (2330–0500 hr) | 1.9 ± 0.4 | 1.4 ± 0.6 | 2.219 | 19 | 0.04 |
| Cosyntropin stimulation test after dexamethasone | |||||
| Mean basal corticotropin (pg/ml) (0730–0800 hr) | 12.2 ± 2.1 | 8.6 ± 2.9 | 3.154 | 19 | 0.005 |
| Mean basal cortisol (μg/dl) (0730–0800 hr) | 1.2 ± 0.5 | 1.0 ± 0.5 | 1.030 | 19 | NS |
| Net integrated cortisol response (μg/dl.2 hr) | 1107 ± 249 | 804 ± 363 | 2.207 | 19 | 0.04 |
Data are mean ± SD.