ABSTRACT
Immunochemical methods of analysis are traditionally used for diagnosis of various forms of Cushing's syndrome (CS). In the presence of boundary values of hormonal parameters, doubtful situations, a combination of changes both in pituitary and in adrenal glands, it is useful to determine additional differential diagnostic criteria for the diagnosis of various forms of CS. Urinary steroid profiles (USP) were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for 38 females with adrenal Cushing's syndrome (CSA), 42 females with pituitary CS (CSP) and 25 healthy females (control group). An increase of free cortisol/free cortisone ratio in the urine (UFF/UFE) for CSP patients in comparison of CSA was obtained by HPLC method. Decreased urinary excretion of UFF and UFE by more than 60% after the 8 mg dexamethasone suppression test had 100% sensitivity and specificity of more than 90% for the diagnosis of CSP. GC-MS method in patients with CSA and CSG revealed the peculiarities of androgens, progestins and glucocorticoids metabolism which leaded to obtain specific USP for CS of different genesis. Increased urinary excretions of dehydroepiandrosterone and its metabolites, metabolites of androstenedione, the ratio of sum of cortisol and cortisone tetrahydrometabolites to tetrahydro-11-deoxycortisol (more then 36) in CSP patients compared with CSA are additional signs for differential diagnosis of these diseases. The combination of classical tests and USP obtained by HPLC and GC-MS methods increased the sensitivity and specificity of differential diagnosis of CSA and CSP.
Subject(s)
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid , Cortisone , Cushing Syndrome , Cortisone/analysis , Cushing Syndrome/diagnosis , Dexamethasone , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry , Humans , HydrocortisoneABSTRACT
The metabolomics of urinary steroids was studied by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in 25 patients with Cushing's syndrome without malignant potential and in 12 patients with malignant potential of adrenal neoplasms (Weiss score 1-3). Patients with adrenocortical adenoma (N=24) constituted the control group. In patients with Cushing's syndrome and malignant potential, increased urinary excretion of 16-oxo-androstendiol, tetrahydro-11-deoxycortisol, and 16-hydroxypregnendiol, which had 100% specificity and sensitivity >90% for the diagnosis of malignant potential. Additionally, non-classical 5-ene-pregnenes (16-OHpregnenolone, 21-OH-pregnenolone, 3ß,16,20-pregnentriol, and 3ß,17,20-pregnentriol) were identified. The revealed changes in the metabolomics of steroids can be early signs of malignant potential in patients with Cushing's syndrome. In patients with malignant potential, three signs of reduced activity of 11ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 were detected and in patients without malignant potential, one sign was found. In patients with and without malignant potential, three signs increased activity of 5ß-reductase were found.
