THE PRODUCTION OF 11-DEOXYCORTISOL (REICHSTEIN'S SUBSTANCE S) IN PATIENTS WITH ADRENOCORTICAL HYPERFUNCTION

Abstract

SUMMARY Using an isotope dilution technique, secretion rates of both 11-deoxycortisol and cortisol were measured simultaneously in a group of control subjects and in 13 patients with adrenocortical hyperplasia or tumour. The rate of 11-deoxycortisol secretion was 3·0% of the combined cortisol and 11-deoxycortisol secretions in the control patients, and 2·5% in most cases of Cushing's syndrome due to adrenocortical hyperplasia. This implied a normal efficiency of the 11β-hydroxylase system in most of these patients. In four patients with adrenocortical tumour there was evidence of reduction of the efficiency of the 11β-hydroxylase system below the normal range.