Dynamic Hormone Diagnostics in Endocrine Disease

Microdialysis fluid will be collected from all participants using the ULTRADIAN dynamic diagnostics system. This is a 3-component collection system which can easily be attached to a belt and allows participants to continue with their normal everyday activities whilst undergoing sampling. The micro-fractions are minute, the volume would normally be by far too small to use with current immunoassays.

ULTRADIAN will overcome this hurdle by introducing two novel techniques; ultrasensitive liquid chromatography tandem mass spectroscopy (LCMS/MS) for steroid hormones, and the proximity extension assay (PEA®), which allows the simultaneous assay of up to 96 analytes in only 1 µL fluid.

The microdialysis sampling will be performed in addition to the conventional diagnostic sampling, and during normal follow-up of patients.

Inclusion criteria

• Healthy male and female subjects aged 18-68 years, non-smokers or regular smokers of greater than 6 cigarettes a day, BMI 16-29
• Male and female Cushing's syndrome aged 18-68 years with biochemically confirmed based on cortisol and ACTH measurements, dexamethasone suppression test and 1 of the following positive investigations (24 hour urine cortisol, salivary/serum cortisol profile). Visible tumour in the pituitary and/or one of the following positive tests pointing to pituitary source for ACTH overproduction (bilateral petrosal sinus sampling, corticotropin releasing hormone test, high dose dexamethasone suppression test) or adrenal tumour considered fit for surgery. No contraceptives for 6 weeks prior to sampling (females only). Patients on medical therapy e.g. metyrapone for Cushings to have a 2 week washout off treatment prior to sampling
• Male and female aged 18 -68 years with biochemically confirmed adrenal insufficiency based on basal cortisol and ACTH measurements and/or Synacthen test +/- adrenal antibodies, and on oral hydrocortisone or cortisone acetate glucocorticoid replacement therapy
• Female aged 18-68 years with biochemically confirmed salt-wasting or simple virilising CAH based on 17OHP, cortisol, androgen, renin and ACTH measurements; disease causing mutation in CYP21A2 and/or synacthen testing.
• Male and female subjects aged 18 -68 years with biochemical confirmation of PHA based on a valid pathological aldosterone/renin ratio and non-suppressible aldosterone levels on one of the currently used confirmatory tests (saline/oral fludrocortisone test). Unilateral only - diagnostic CT and/or adrenal vein sampling
• Male and female subjects aged 18-68 years with biochemically confirmed GHD (arginine growth hormone releasing hormone test, insulin tolerance test, known pituitary disease with confirmed pan hypopituitarism)
• Male and female aged 18-68 years with biochemically confirmed acromegaly (oral glucose tolerance test or GH day curve and diagnostic insulin growth factor 1 levels) with radiological evidence of a pituitary adenoma.

Exclusion criteria

• Healthy controls undergoing or planning pregnancy or lactating women. Presence of any unstable pathological condition in past 3 months. On any regular prescribed medications (except contraception). Prior or current history of an endocrine disorder. Known allergy to Lignocaine, plasters. Current or past steroid therapies (oral, inhaled, parenteral or topical) or other interfering medication in last 3 months. Regular alcohol intake great then 26units of alcohol per week.Taking of any investigational drug within the past two months. Abuse of illicit drugs. Occasional smokers of cigarettes not able to abstain for sampling period or smoking less than 6 cigarettes a day. Needle phobia. Interfering diet/over the counter herbal remedies in last 14 days.
• Cushing syndrome: Undergoing or planning pregnancy (females only). Known allergy to Lignocaine. Adrenal cancer (post-operative histology diagnosis),cyclic Cushings, squamous cell lung carcinoma, bronchial carcinoid and occult ectopic Cushings. Concurrent use of steroid therapy for any other medical condition (oral, inhaled, parenteral or topical)
• Adrenal insufficiency: Undergoing or planning pregnancy, known allergy to Lignocaine, use of other steroid medications other than their standard glucocorticoid and fludrocortisone replacement, other interfering medication or diet within 2 weeks of sampling.
• CAH: Males, females undergoing or planning pregnancy, known allergy to Lignocaine, use of other steroid medications other than their standard glucocorticoid and fludrocortisone replacement or other interfering medication or diet within 2 weeks of sampling
• Primary hyperaldosteronism: Undergoing or planning pregnancy (females only), known allergy to Lidocaine, known adrenal failure and/or on steroid therapy (oral, inhaled, parenteral or topical), concurrent use of interfering medication ( i.e. specific interfering antihypertensive medication) or diet within 2-4 weeks of ultradian sampling
• GHD: Undergoing or planning pregnancy (females only) or known allergy to Lignocaine
• Acromegaly: Undergoing or planning pregnancy (females only), known allergy to Lignocaine treatment with somatostatin analogues and other interfering medication (e.g. oestrogens)