How is Cushing's Syndrome Diagnosed? Cushing's Syndrome is diagnosed with Low Dose Dexamethasone Suppression Test. Cushing's Syndrome is caused when there is excess cortisol, a glucocorticoid hormone secreted by adrenal cortex. Why Random cortisol levels cannot be used to diagnose Cushing's Syndrome? One cannot simply measure random plasma cortisol to make a diagnosis of excess cortisol hormone in the body because cortisol levels fluctuate throughout the day, and can also be altered by other factors like illness and stress. Thus, the diagnosis of Cushing's Syndrome is made with Overnight Dexamethasone Suppression Test. What is overnight low dose dexamethasone test? It is a good outpatient test in which low dose ( 1 milligrams) of Dexamethasone is given at midnight and serum cortisol levels are measured next morning ( at 8 AM) . In normal individuals the midnight dose of dexamethasone suppresses the cortisol...
How is Cushing's Syndrome Diagnosed? Cushing's Syndrome is diagnosed with Low Dose Dexamethasone Suppression Test. Cushing's Syndrome is caused when there is excess cortisol, a glucocorticoid hormone secreted by adrenal cortex. Why Random cortisol levels cannot be used to diagnose Cushing's Syndrome? One cannot simply measure random plasma cortisol to make a diagnosis of excess cortisol hormone in the body because cortisol levels fluctuate throughout the day, and can also be altered by other factors like illness and stress. Thus, the diagnosis of Cushing's Syndrome is made with Overnight Dexamethasone Suppression Test. What is overnight low dose dexamethasone test? It is a good outpatient test in which low dose ( 1 milligrams) of Dexamethasone is given at midnight and serum cortisol levels are measured next morning ( at 8 AM) . In normal individuals the midnight dose of dexamethasone suppresses the cortisol...