Salivary Cortisol Response to ACTH Stimulation Is a Reliable Alternative to Serum Cortisol in Evaluating Hypoadrenalism

Abstract

Abstract Context The serum total cortisol response to the ACTH stimulation test is widely used to assess adrenocortical function but is affected by changes in cortisol-binding globulin (CBG) concentration. Salivary cortisol reflects free cortisol concentrations and may offer a reliable alternative. Objectives (1) To establish the salivary cortisol response to ACTH stimulation in healthy volunteers and patients with altered CBG concentrations; (2) to evaluate the performance of a lower reference limit (LRL) determined in healthy volunteers in patients with suspected hypoadrenalism (SH-patients). Design A 250 µg ACTH stimulation test was undertaken in 139 healthy volunteers, 24 women taking an estradiol-containing oral contraceptive pill (OCP-females), 10 patients with low serum protein concentration (LP-patients), and 30 SH-patients. Salivary cortisol was measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Mean and LRL of the 30-minute salivary cortisol response (mean—1.96 standard deviation) were derived from log-transformed concentrations. The LRL was applied as a diagnostic cut-off in SH-patients, with comparison to the serum response. Results Mean CBG concentrations (range) were 58 (42-81) mg/L, 64 (43-95) mg/L, 41 (28-60) mg/L, and 116 (84-159) mg/L in males, females, LP-patients, and OCP-females, respectively. The mean 30-minute salivary cortisol concentration was 19.3 (2.5th-97.5th percentile 10.3-36.2) nmol/L in healthy volunteers. Corresponding values were not different in OCP-females [19.7 (9.5-41.2) nmol/L; P = .59] or LP-patients [19.0 (7.7-46.9) nmol/L; P = .97]. Overall diagnostic agreement between salivary and serum responses in SH-patients was 79%. Conclusion Salivary cortisol response to ACTH stimulation offers a reliable alternative to serum and may be especially useful in conditions of altered CBG concentration.