[Considerations in clinical testing--implications of urinary 17-ketosteroid sulfate and 17-hydroxycorticosteroid...

With the recent increase in number of patients with stress, the search is continuing for health-indicators that can be used to determine stress reliably and quickly. These indicators rely on subjective evaluations, and the establishment of an objective method of determining stress is necessary. We have developed a method involving the determination of the 17-Ketosteroid sulfates (17-KS-S) which has proved valuable for stress research. By simultaneous measurement of both 17-KS-S and 17-hydroxycorticosteroids (17-OHCS), which have different biological significance, and which originate from the adrenal gland, an organic Yin-Yang evaluation of the adrenocortical function can be made. The two values (mainly the 17-KS-S values) are closely correlated to the biological stress state as evaluated from psychosocial factors. This method should prove to be valuable in the clinic as an objective method of determining stress.