Limited Diagnostic Utility of Cortisol and Growth Hormone Levels Obtained during Hypoglycemia in Children
Authors' conclusion
Blunted cortisol responses to spontaneous hypoglycemia in children are frequent, whereas AI is rare.
Study context
- Population
- Children with laboratory glucose ≤50 mg% during spontaneous hypoglycemia, 1992–2022
- Participants
- 133 children
- Outcome
- Cortisol and GH responses to spontaneous hypoglycemia; prevalence of AI (cortisol <500 nmol/L)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Critical sample cortisol <500 nmol/L
51.1%
n = 68
Critical sample cortisol <276 nmol/L
23.3%
n = 31
Adrenal insufficiency (AI) ultimately diagnosed (4 multiple pituitary hormone deficiency, 1 primary AI)
5 patients
3.7%
Critical sample growth hormone (GH) <7.5 ng/mL
56.9%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Critical sample GH and detectable insulin: cortisol <500 nmol/L vs rest of cohort
P < 0.001
Detectable insulin Cortisol <500 nmol/L 53.3% · Rest of cohort 35.6%
| Outcome | P value |
|---|---|
| Critical sample GH and detectable insulin: cortisol <500 nmol/L vs rest of cohort | P = 0.052 |
Critical sample GH and detectable insulin: cortisol <500 nmol/L vs rest of cohort
- No other clinical or biochemical differences
Correlations of critical sample cortisol
- With fasting test nadir cortisol
- r = 0.574, p < 0.001
- With Synacthen-stimulated cortisol
- r = 0.448, p = 0.004
- With age (not correlated)
- r = 0.026, p = 0.765
- With critical sample glucose (not correlated)
- r = 0.025, p = 0.802
- With critical sample insulin (inverse)
- r = −0.242, p = 0.009
Correlations of critical sample GH
- With age (inverse)
- r = −0.489, p < 0.001
- With glucose (inverse)
- r = −0.332, p < 0.001
- With height-SDS (not associated)
- r = −0.046, p = 0.694
- With weight-SDS (not associated)
- r = −0.021, p = 0.819
Original publication
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →