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Updated: May 7, 2026

Fecal Glucocorticoid Analysis: Non-invasive Adrenal Monitoring in Equids

Fecal Glucocorticoid Analysis: Non-invasive Adrenal Monitoring in Equids

Published on: April 25, 2016

GH secretion reserve in subclinical hypercortisolism.

Serena Palmieri¹, Valentina Morelli, Antonio Stefano Salcuni

¹Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan, Italy, serena.palmieri@hotmail.it.

|October 8, 2013

Summary

Subclinical hypercortisolism (SH) is linked to reduced growth hormone (GH) secretion. GH levels improve after SH resolves, indicating a reversible effect on GH reserve.

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Area of Science:

Endocrinology
Metabolic Disorders
Hormone Secretion

Background:

Overt hypercortisolism impairs growth hormone (GH) secretion, which normalizes post-surgery.
GH secretion in subclinical hypercortisolism (SH) remains largely uninvestigated.
Adrenal adenomas can lead to varying degrees of cortisol excess.

Purpose of the Study:

To assess GH reserve in patients with and without SH.
To evaluate GH reserve in SH patients before and after recovery.
To understand the impact of SH on the GH/IGF-1 axis.

Main Methods:

Enrolled 24 patients with adrenal adenomas (12 SH+, 12 SH-).
Diagnosed SH using overnight dexamethasone suppression test, urinary free cortisol (UFC), and ACTH levels.
Assessed GH secretion via GHRH + Arginine test and measured IGF-I SDS.

Main Results:

SH+ patients exhibited significantly lower GH peak (GH-P) and GH area under the curve (GH-AUC) compared to SH- patients.
GH secretion (GH-AUC, GH-P) negatively correlated with UFC levels.
Following recovery from SH, GH-P and GH-AUC levels significantly increased.

Conclusions:

GH secretion reserve is diminished in patients with subclinical hypercortisolism.
Recovery from SH leads to a significant improvement in GH secretion.
SH represents a reversible condition affecting the GH axis.