Improved Urinary Cortisol Metabolome in Addison Disease: A Prospective Trial of Dual-Release Hydrocortisone

Stéphanie Espiard, Johanna McQueen, Mark Sherlock, Oskar Ragnarsson, Ragnhildur Bergthorsdottir, Pia Burman, Per Dahlqvist, Bertil Ekman, Britt Edén Engström, Stanko Skrtic, Jeanette Wahlberg, Paul M. Stewart, Gudmundur Johannsson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

CONTEXT: Oral once-daily dual-release hydrocortisone (DR-HC) replacement therapy has demonstrated an improved metabolic profile compared to conventional 3-times-daily (TID-HC) therapy among patients with primary adrenal insufficiency. This effect might be related to a more physiological cortisol profile, but also to a modified pattern of cortisol metabolism. OBJECTIVE: This work aimed to study cortisol metabolism during DR-HC and TID-HC. DESIGN: A randomized, 12-week, crossover study was conducted. INTERVENTION AND PARTICIPANTS: DC-HC and same daily dose of TID-HC were administered to patients with primary adrenal insufficiency (n = 50) vs healthy individuals (n = 124) as controls. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Urinary corticosteroid metabolites were measured by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry at 24-hour urinary collections. RESULTS: Total cortisol metabolites decreased during DR-HC compared to TID-HC (P < .001) and reached control values (P = .089). During DR-HC, 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) activity measured by tetrahydrocortisol + 5α-tetrahydrocortisol/tetrahydrocortisone ratio was reduced compared to TID-HC (P < .05), but remained increased vs controls (P < .001). 11β-HSD2 activity measured by urinary free cortisone/free cortisol ratio was decreased with TID-HC vs controls (P < .01) but normalized with DR-HC (P = .358). 5α- and 5β-reduced metabolites were decreased with DR-HC compared to TID-HC. Tetrahydrocortisol/5α-tetrahydrocortisol ratio was increased during both treatments, suggesting increased 5β-reductase activity. CONCLUSIONS: The urinary cortisol metabolome shows striking abnormalities in patients receiving conventional TID-HC replacement therapy, with increased 11β-HSD1 activity that may account for the unfavorable metabolic phenotype in primary adrenal insufficiency. Its change toward normalization with DR-HC may mediate beneficial metabolic effects. The urinary cortisol metabolome may serve as a tool to assess optimal cortisol replacement therapy.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)814-825
Number of pages12
JournalThe Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism
Volume106
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021

Subject classification (UKÄ)

  • Endocrinology and Diabetes

Keywords

  • 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase
  • Addison disease
  • cortisol metabolism
  • dual-release hydrocortisone
  • hydrocortisone
  • primary adrenal insufficiency

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