Redefining ITT cortisol thresholds on Abbott platforms to prevent misdiagnosis of adrenal insufficiency.
adrenal insufficiency
adrenocorticotropic hormone
glucocorticoid replacement
insulin tolerance test
Journal
Clinical endocrinology
ISSN: 1365-2265
Titre abrégé: Clin Endocrinol (Oxf)
Pays: England
ID NLM: 0346653
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
27 May 2024
27 May 2024
Historique:
revised:
11
04
2024
received:
22
11
2023
accepted:
02
05
2024
medline:
27
5
2024
pubmed:
27
5
2024
entrez:
27
5
2024
Statut:
aheadofprint
Résumé
Adrenal insufficiency (AI) is a life-threatening condition which requires long term glucocorticoid replacement. The insulin tolerance test (ITT) is the current gold standard test for diagnosis of secondary AI, but the widely accepted cut-off value of a peak cortisol of less than 500 nmol/L assumes that anyone who does not reach this value has AI and thus requires full replacement. The cut-off used to diagnose AI is also founded on outdated assays. Use of this cut-off in an era of more specific immunoassays therefore risks misdiagnosis, subsequent unnecessary glucocorticoid exposure and associated adverse effects with increased mortality risk. This retrospective analysis assessed 300 ITT cortisol responses using the Abbott Architect and Alinity analyser platforms in patients with suspected AI over a period of 12 years (August 2010 to January 2022), at a tertiary centre. Patients were classified as having AI or not, based on a comprehensive clinical review of electronic patient records from the point of test to the present day by a panel of pituitary and adrenal specialists. Using the current institutional cut-off value of 500 nmol/L, receiver operating characteristic analysis identified a 100.0% sensitivity and 43.6% specificity (area under the curve 0.979). Using a lower cortisol threshold value of 416 nmol/L on the Abbott analyser platform maintained a sensitivity of 100.0% and improved the specificity to 86.7%. This data supports lowering the Abbott analyser ITT peak cortisol threshold to 416 nmol/L. Use of this improved cut-off avoids unnecessary glucocorticoid replacement therapy in 104 (34.7%) of individuals in this study. All patients remained well with at least 1 year longitudinal follow up of glucocorticoid replacement.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Adrenal insufficiency (AI) is a life-threatening condition which requires long term glucocorticoid replacement. The insulin tolerance test (ITT) is the current gold standard test for diagnosis of secondary AI, but the widely accepted cut-off value of a peak cortisol of less than 500 nmol/L assumes that anyone who does not reach this value has AI and thus requires full replacement. The cut-off used to diagnose AI is also founded on outdated assays. Use of this cut-off in an era of more specific immunoassays therefore risks misdiagnosis, subsequent unnecessary glucocorticoid exposure and associated adverse effects with increased mortality risk.
DESIGN, PATIENTS AND MEASUREMENTS
METHODS
This retrospective analysis assessed 300 ITT cortisol responses using the Abbott Architect and Alinity analyser platforms in patients with suspected AI over a period of 12 years (August 2010 to January 2022), at a tertiary centre.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Patients were classified as having AI or not, based on a comprehensive clinical review of electronic patient records from the point of test to the present day by a panel of pituitary and adrenal specialists. Using the current institutional cut-off value of 500 nmol/L, receiver operating characteristic analysis identified a 100.0% sensitivity and 43.6% specificity (area under the curve 0.979). Using a lower cortisol threshold value of 416 nmol/L on the Abbott analyser platform maintained a sensitivity of 100.0% and improved the specificity to 86.7%.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
This data supports lowering the Abbott analyser ITT peak cortisol threshold to 416 nmol/L. Use of this improved cut-off avoids unnecessary glucocorticoid replacement therapy in 104 (34.7%) of individuals in this study. All patients remained well with at least 1 year longitudinal follow up of glucocorticoid replacement.
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Subventions
Organisme : George Alberti Research Training Fellow
ID : 23/0006515
Organisme : the NIHR BRC
Organisme : the NIHR, NIHR BRC
Organisme : the Moulton Charitable Research Foundation
Informations de copyright
© 2024 The Authors. Clinical Endocrinology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
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