[18-Hydroxycorticosterone, 18-hydroxydesoxycorticosterone. Why, when, how to determine plasma levels in some adrenal pathologies].

B Aupetit, R Fraser, P Vecsei, M Zenatti, S Lewicka, P Corvol, N Zaugg, J C Legrand

Index: Ann. Endocrinol. (Paris.) 51(1) , 1-15, (1990)

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Abstract

The authors review some current ideas concerning the role of 18-hydroxylated corticosteroids as mineralocorticoids themselves and as possible precursors of the principal mineralocorticoid, aldosterone. In particular, the physiological and pharmacological agents affecting their secretion are discussed together with a description of the methods used for their analysis in plasma in the department of Clinical Biochemistry Pitié-Salpétrière. Finally, the value of these assays in the differential diagnosis of mineralocorticoid hypertension and inborn errors of corticosteroid biosynthesis is assessed and the constraints on sampling technique listed.