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Updated: Jan 31, 2026

Collecting Hair Samples for Hair Cortisol Analysis in African Americans
Published on: June 10, 2018
Hair cortisol concentration in patients with active central serous chorioretinopathy is elevated - a pilot study
Janine Lenk1, Dirk Sandner1, Lena Schindler2
1Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
Purpose:
To investigate hair cortisol concentration (HCC), a biochemical correlate of long-term cortisol output patterns, and its relationship to active central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC).
Methods:
Twenty-six participants were included in this observational pilot study (11 patients with active CSC and 15 healthy controls). Hair cortisol concentrations (HCCs) were determined from 3 cm hair strands collected near the scalp from patients and controls as an index of cumulative cortisol secretion over the 3-month period prior to hair sampling.
Results:
Patients with CSC exhibited higher HCCs (mean value: 20.14, 95% CI: 14.89-27.16 pg/mg) than healthy controls (mean value: 11.06, 95% CI: 8.63-14.22 pg/mg, p = 0.008). Group differences were not affected by relevant covariates (BMI, smoking status, sex).
Conclusion:
Patients with active CSC have increased HCC, supporting the fact that cortisol is a major player in CSC pathogenesis.
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