Cortisol after dexamethasone loading

• The test is performed after loading with dexamethasone. The drug is issued in pharmacies by prescription (the prescription should be issued by the doctor referring the patient to the test).
  The patient fulfills the prescription, takes a dose of 1 mg of dexamethasone in tablet form before bed (between 11 pm and midnight). The next morning (between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m.), he goes to have his blood drawn for a cortisol level test after being loaded with dexamethasone.
• The test material is blood.
• The patient does not need to be fasting.About 30 minutes before the test it is advisable to drink a glass of water.

The test is performed on the order of the referring physician, who issues a prescription for dexamethasone.
The test is performed after loading with dexamethasone.

On the day of the test, no other laboratory tests should be performed, e.g. glucose, morphology, other hormones - dexamethasone interferes with their results.

The test is performed on the order of the referring physician, who issues a prescription for dexamethasone.
The patient fulfills the prescription, takes a dose of 1 mg of dexamethasone in tablet form before bedtime ( between 11 pm and midnight). The next morning( between 8.00-9.00), he goes for a blood draw to test his cortisol level after a dexamethasone load.
The dexamethasone nocturnal inhibition test is used in the diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome.

Cortisol is a steroid hormone produced in the adrenal cortex that affects the metabolism of carbohydrates (increases gluconeogenesis and glycogenesis), fats (increases lipolysis) and proteins (increases their catabolism) and (weaker than aldosterone) on water and electrolyte metabolism (increases sodium reabsorption in the renal tubules and promotes renal excretion of potassium). It has anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects, enhances gastric juice secretion, causes calcium release from bones, causes the release of granulocyte myeloid reserve, and inhibits the function of the lymphocytic system. Cortisol accounts for 75-90% of the total corticoids circulating in the blood. The production and secretion of corticosteroids in the adrenal cortex is under the control of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) produced in the pituitary gland and the ACTH-releasing factor corticoliberin CRF produced by the hypothalamus. This regulation is based on the principle of negative feedback. Adrenal steroids circulate in the blood in the form of connections with proteins mainly transcortin and albumin. Conversion of steroid hormones to biologically inactive metabolites takes place in the liver.

It is also used as a drug in the treatment of certain chronic diseases (e.g. bronchial asthma) and interventional, short-term or one-time treatment of life-threatening conditions (e.g. shock, asthmatic condition).

Importance of the test: diagnosis of adrenal gland dysfunction, search for hormone-producing tumors, control in adrenal steroid therapy.

Abnormal values: in Cusching syndrome,

in Addison's disease. Abnormal secretion results in adrenal hyper- or hypothyroidism.

Note: under physiological conditions, the hormone is secreted in a diurnal rhythm with an increase in concentration in the morning and a decrease in the evening.It is a classic stress hormone.

A single result is for illustrative purposes and cannot constitute a diagnosis of disease. Always consult your doctor.

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