Production of gender-specific morning salivary cortisol reference intervals using internationally accepted procedures
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Rajan S. Patel
Abstract
Background: Salivary cortisol concentrations correlate well with biologically active unbound free plasma cortisol concentrations. Despite its practical and analytical advantages, salivary cortisol measurement has been used mainly as a research tool rather than for the routine evaluation of adrenal function. This may be partly explained by the lack of robust reference data in the literature.
Methods: Using the recommended procedures for the production of reference intervals published by the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry, we aimed to produce morning salivary cortisol reference intervals for males and females. Salivary cortisol was measured in 496 specimens collected from 248 reference individuals (128 males, median age 41years, range 16–86; and 120 females, median age 44years, range 16–98) attending an otorhinolaryngology clinic. Reference individuals mailed saliva specimens sampled on two consecutive mornings to our laboratory, where cortisol concentrations were measured.
Results: Statistical analysis showed no significant correlation with age or body mass index. The following 95% gender-partitioned reference intervals were produced: males 10.9–40.3nmol/l; and females 9.3–40.3nmol/l.
Conclusion: Knowledge of these salivary cortisol reference intervals helps us monitor the adrenal function of outpatients using topical intranasal glucocorticoids for rhinosinusitis.
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©2004 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin New York
Articles in the same Issue
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- Author Index
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- The apoB/apoA-I ratio is better than the cholesterol ratios to estimate the balance between plasma proatherogenic and antiatherogenic lipoproteins and to predict coronary risk
- Rapid combined genotyping of factor V, prothrombin and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase single nucleotide polymorphisms using minor groove binding DNA oligonucleotides (MGB probes) and real-time polymerase chain reaction
- Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene A222V polymorphism and risk of ischemic stroke
- Determination of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) using a novel ELISA assay
- The assessment of bone metabolism in female elite endurance athletes by biochemical bone markers
- Declines in serum free and bound choline concentrations in humans after three different types of major surgery
- Analysis of inflammatory response in human plasma samples by an automated multicapillary electrophoresis system
- Multicenter evaluation of the commutability of a potential reference material for harmonization of enzyme activities
- HDL and clinical and biochemical correlates in Italian non-smoker women
- Hyperhomocysteinaemia is associated with uveitis but not with deep venous thrombosis in Behçet's disease
- Production of gender-specific morning salivary cortisol reference intervals using internationally accepted procedures
- Concentrations of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide and troponin T in plasma of 75-year-old apparently healthy persons
- External Quality Assessment for biochemical markers of myocardial damage: an Italian experience
- Further evaluation of the immunonephelometric assay of soluble transferrin receptor and assessment of pediatric values in southern Italy
- Exercise raises serum heat-shock protein 70 (Hsp70) levels
- Hepatitis C-associated complement cold activation
- The relationship between cryoglobulins and HCV-RNA in the serum of patients infected with different HCV genotypes
- Artificial neural network-based algorithm for the evaluation of serum protein capillary electrophoresis
- State-of-the-art systematic error for therapeutic drug monitoring
- Peculiarities and problems with the EXCEL® F-test
- Questionable results – should EQA results be accepted as submitted or should ‘obvious mistakes’ be corrected?. Reply to Wood WG. Questionable results – who directs the EQAS organisers? CCLM 2004;42(9):1073
- Erratum
Articles in the same Issue
- Contents
- Author Index
- Subject Index
- Hematopoietic cytokines as tumor markers
- The apoB/apoA-I ratio is better than the cholesterol ratios to estimate the balance between plasma proatherogenic and antiatherogenic lipoproteins and to predict coronary risk
- Rapid combined genotyping of factor V, prothrombin and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase single nucleotide polymorphisms using minor groove binding DNA oligonucleotides (MGB probes) and real-time polymerase chain reaction
- Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene A222V polymorphism and risk of ischemic stroke
- Determination of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) using a novel ELISA assay
- The assessment of bone metabolism in female elite endurance athletes by biochemical bone markers
- Declines in serum free and bound choline concentrations in humans after three different types of major surgery
- Analysis of inflammatory response in human plasma samples by an automated multicapillary electrophoresis system
- Multicenter evaluation of the commutability of a potential reference material for harmonization of enzyme activities
- HDL and clinical and biochemical correlates in Italian non-smoker women
- Hyperhomocysteinaemia is associated with uveitis but not with deep venous thrombosis in Behçet's disease
- Production of gender-specific morning salivary cortisol reference intervals using internationally accepted procedures
- Concentrations of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide and troponin T in plasma of 75-year-old apparently healthy persons
- External Quality Assessment for biochemical markers of myocardial damage: an Italian experience
- Further evaluation of the immunonephelometric assay of soluble transferrin receptor and assessment of pediatric values in southern Italy
- Exercise raises serum heat-shock protein 70 (Hsp70) levels
- Hepatitis C-associated complement cold activation
- The relationship between cryoglobulins and HCV-RNA in the serum of patients infected with different HCV genotypes
- Artificial neural network-based algorithm for the evaluation of serum protein capillary electrophoresis
- State-of-the-art systematic error for therapeutic drug monitoring
- Peculiarities and problems with the EXCEL® F-test
- Questionable results – should EQA results be accepted as submitted or should ‘obvious mistakes’ be corrected?. Reply to Wood WG. Questionable results – who directs the EQAS organisers? CCLM 2004;42(9):1073
- Erratum
