URINARY 17-HYDROXYCORTICOSTEROIDS MEASURED BY GAS-LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY

Abstract

SUMMARY A method is described for the estimation of a group of cortisol metabolites in urine, namely tetrahydrocortisone, tetrahydrocortisols, cortols, cortolones and their glucosiduronic acids using gas-liquid chromatography for the final separation and measurement. The metabolites of cortisol analogues in therapeutic use do not interfere with the measurement. In normal individuals the figures for 24 hr. excretion were on average 20 % lower than those obtained by the 'total '17-hydroxycorticosteroids method of Appleby, Gibson, Norymberski & Stubbs (1955). The mean deviation from the mean of duplicate estimations was 3·5% (1–10%) and amounts less than 1 mg./24 hr. were easily detected, though at these levels the precision is thought to be ± 25 %. The use of the method in a variety of clinical conditions is described and discussed.