CIRCADIAN PATTERN OF SERUM ANDROGENS IN WOMEN WITH CUSHINGS-SYNDROME

Circadian profiles of the serum levels of cortisol and five androgens were studied in 20 females including 8 controls, 7 patients with ACTH- dependent Cushing's syndrome and 5 with hypercortisolism due to adrena l adenoma. A significant 24-h periodicity was found for each steroid i n all groups. Besides hypercortisolaemia, a significant increase of 11 -hydroxyandrostenedione was shown in both forms of Cushing's syndrome. The most conspicuous finding was a decreased dehydroepiandrosterone a nd its sulphate in adrenal adenoma. The peaks for the studied steroids were shifted from the morning hours towards the noon in ACTH-dependen t Cushing's syndrome and towards the evening (for cortisol) and night hours (for androgens) in adrenal adenoma.