RESUMO

We studied the daily cortisol production rate in 33 normal children and adolescents, using a stable isotope-dilution technique employing high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Two indwelling intravenous catheters were inserted and tracer 9,12,12-2H3-cortisol (deuterated cortisol) was infused continuously for 30 hours. After 6 hours of tracer infusion to allow for equilibration, blood was obtained every 20 minutes for 24 hours. The mean (+/- SD) cortisol production rate was 9.5 +/- 2.5 mg/day (6.8 +/- 1.9 mg/m2/day). Cortisol production rate did not vary with sex or pubertal stage. These results suggest that the cortisol production rate in children and adolescents is significantly lower than previously estimated.

Assuntos

Adolescente/fisiologia , Ritmo Circadiano , Hidrocortisona/biossíntese , Criança , Cromatografia Líquida de Alta Pressão , Feminino , Humanos , Hidrocortisona/sangue , Hidrocortisona/urina , Hidroxiesteroides/urina , Técnicas de Diluição do Indicador , Isótopos , Masculino , Espectrometria de Massas