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Since adults with histories of sexual abuse as children experience both dysregulation of cortisol and increased inflammatory markers, we hypothesized that plasma cortisol dysregulation and increased plasma IL-6 would be detectable at the first presentation of pre-pubertal girls to a sexual abuse clinic. Following the stressful forensic examination, the 11 patients recruited to the study had significantly different cortisol concentrations (p<0.0075), depending on whether they resided with family (309±101 nmol/l) or in a children's home (157±38 nmol/l). IL-6 was detected in all patients residing in a children's home, with plasma cortisol and IL-6 being inversely correlated (r=−0.8875). Our study demonstrates an association between decreased cortisol secretion, inflammation, and place of residence in sexually abused girls.

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