A single, post-ACTH cortisol measurement to screen for adrenal insufficiency in the hospitalized patient

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Cosyntropin stimulation testing (CST) is used to screen patients for adrenal insufficiency (AI). Traditionally, CST includes baseline cortisol concentration, the administration of cosyntropin, and cortisol concentration at 30 and 60 minutes poststimulation. There is debate surrounding the utility of testing and cut-off points for concentrations at each time point. OBJECTIVE: To determine if a single cortisol measurement at 30 or 60 minutes could replace the traditional approach. DESIGN: We looked retrospectively at inpatients who underwent standard, high-dose CST (n = 702) and evaluated the number of patients who would screen positive for AI by using a single time point (30 or 60 minutes) compared with the traditional CST. SETTING: A tertiary-care, academic medical center. PATIENTS: Hospital inpatients present between January 2012 and September 2013. RESULTS: Of tests, 84.3% were normal, which was defined as at least one cortisol concentration of 18 mcg/dL or higher at any time after stimulation. The average 60-minute concentration was higher than the average 30-minute concentration (P