Diagnostic Approach to Hypofunction and Hyperfunction of the Adrenal Cortex

Abstract

Laboratory diagnosis of diseases of the adrenal cortex has become greatly simplified in the past 10 years. Now, instead of looking for secondary changes caused by excess or deficiency of adrenocortical hormones, one can estimate these hormones directly in blood and urine. By following the steroids under controlled stimulation and suppression, it is possible to determine the adrenocortical functional reserve and thus early underactivity or overactivity may be diagnosed even before symptoms appear.