corticosterone in serum

Indications

• concurrent measurement of corticosterone & cortisol increases sensitivity of dexamethasone suppression test in patient with endogenous depression

Reference interval

• adult (0800): 130-820 ng/dL (4-24 nmol/L)
• adult (1600): 60-220 ng/dL (2-6 nmol/L)
• ratio of cortisol/corticosterone (range: 6-60, mean: 21) decreases when ACTH is administered.
• no significant change in serum corticosterone accompanies normal aging

Increases

• adrenogenital syndrome with 17-hydroxylase deficiency
• congenital 18-hydroxylation defect with salt-losing syndrome
• adrenal adenomas

Methods

RIA

Specimen

• serum
• separate within 1 hour
• store frozen

More general terms

• corticosterone in body fluid

Additional terms

• corticosterone