Change in circadian cortisol rhythmicity in patients with intracranial tumour

Abstract

To verify the influence of intracranial expanding processes on circadian cortisol rhythm, we studied its occurrence in 10 normal subjects, in 5 patients with extrasellar tumour, and in 3 patients with intracranial haematoma. All patients were tested every 4 h. Cortisol was measured by RIA. A cosine function was fitted to the data by mean cosinor method to evidence any rhythm and its parameters. A significant circadian rhythm was detected in the normal subjects with acrophase at 07.55 (07.15–08.25). The patients with extrasellar tumour and those with intracranial haematoma showed a lack of circadian rhythmicity due to a significant increase of cortisol levels at 20.00 and at 00.00, respectively. Our results suggest that study of the cortisol rhythm is useful, especially when an extrasellar tumour is suspected. Nous avons étudié le rythme circadien du cortisol plasmatique RIA chez 10 sujets normaux, chez 5 sujets atteints de tumeur entre-cranien extrasellaire et 3 sujets atteints d'hématome entre-cranien. Les données obtenues ont été élaborées avec le méthode du Cosinor. Une périodicite circadienne normale a été relevée chez les sujets normaux, avec acrophase à 07.55 (07.15–08.25). Les patients porteurs d'un tumeur extrasellaire et ceux-là atteints d'hématome entre-cramen montraient un remarquable accroissement des taux de cortisol plasmatique à 20.00 et à 00.00h respectivement sans un rythme circadien significatif. Nos résultats soulignent l'importance de l'étude du rythme circadien du cortisol dans la pathologie entre-cranienne extrasellaire. E’ stato studiato il ritmo circadiano del cortisolo plasmatico RIA in 10 soggetti normali, in 5 pazienti con tumore cerebrale extrasellare ed in 3 pazienti con ematoma intracranico. I dati ottenuti sono stati elaborati secondo la metodica del single e mean cosinor. Una normale periodicità circadiana è stata evidenziata nei soggetti normali con acrofase alle 07.55 (07.15–08.25). I pazienti con tumore extrasellare e quelli con ematoma intracranico hanno mostrato un notevole incremento dei livelli di cortisolo alle 20.00 ed alle 00.00 rispettivamente senza un ritmo circadiano significativo. I risultati ottenuti sottolineano il valore dello studio del ritmo circadiano del cortisolo per la patologia espansiva intracranica extrasellare.