Circadian Rhythm of Plasma 11-Hydroxycorticosteroids in Patients on Chronic Intermittent Dialysis

Plasma immunoreactive melanotrophic hormones in patients on maintenance haemodialysis.

“…The slightly raised plasma immunoreactive ACTH concentrations in some of our patients is of interest because others (Varghese et al, 1969;Asbach et al, 1974) have shown a lack of the normal nyctohemeral rhythm of corticosteroids in dialysis patients. Such patients, however, do not develop the overt clinical features associated with Cushing's syndrome.…”

Serum cortisol concentrations in children with chronic renal insufficiency.

“…The growth retardation seen in these children is therefore unlikely to relate to an abnormality of serum cortisol concentration. The previously reported raised values in patients with renal insufficiency (Varghese et al, 1969;Snodgrass et al, 1970) have not been substantiated.…”

“…Fanconi (1954) postulated that adrenal hypertrophy and excess circulating corticosteroids, occurring in response to stress, might limit the growth of children with chronic renal disease. Further investigations have shown that rats rendered uraemic by either subtotal nephrectomy or induced nephritis develop adrenal hypertrophy (Deane and Masson, 1951;Morrison, 1962) and there have been reports of an abnormal diurnal rhythm and of raised midnight and morning plasma cortisol concentrations in adults with severe renal failure (Varghese et al, 1969;Snodgrass et al, 1970). However, in the above reports the cortisol concentrations were determined using a fluorimetric technique similar to that described by Mattingly (1962).…”