11-Deoxycortisol (serum)

General Information

11-Deoxycortisol is a precursor of cortisol. Its levels increase significantly when the concentration of adrenocorticotropic hormone is significantly increased (e.g., in Cushing's syndrome, corticotropin-secreting tumors, etc.) or in 11-beta-hydroxylase deficiency.

Pharmacological blockade of 11-beta-hydroxylase with metyrapone and against this background determination of 11-deoxycortisol in serum or determination of 17-ketosteroids in urine - used to determine hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal connections, for differential diagnostics of Cushing's syndrome and others.

Referral norms

0-18 years: <344 ng/dL

>18 above: 10-79 ng/dL

Interpretation

Elevated serum 11-deoxycortisol in suspected congenital adrenal hyperplasia indicates a possible 11-beta-hydroxylase (enzyme) deficiency. However, in some patients, an increase in serum 11-deoxycortisol may not be detected. In a number of cases, an increase in serum 11-deoxycortisol concentration is observed only in response to stimulation with adrenocorticotropic hormone.

Material for examination: Venous blood

Warning:  Ethyl alcohol, estrogens, barbiturates, valproic acid, phenytoin, exogenous glucocorticoids cause a change in the response to the metyrapine test.