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RONALD D. BROWN, CHARLES A. STROTT, Plasma Deoxycorticosterone in Man, The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Volume 32, Issue 6, 1 June 1971, Pages 744–750, https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem-32-6-744
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Abstract
Plasma levels of deoxycorticosterone (DOC) were determined using a newly developed competitive-binding assay employing corticosteroid binding globulin. Normal men, women throughout the menstrual cycle, and women on oral contraceptives had DOC levels ranging from less than 5 to 10 ng/100 ml. Levels rose to over 100 ng/100 ml following an ACTH infusion and to over 1000 ng/100 ml following metyrapone. Neither a 10 mEq sodium diet nor an angiotensin II infusion caused a detectable increase in DOC. Seven patients with Cushing's syndrome due to excess pituitary ACTH had DOC levels ranging from less than 5 to 15 ng/100 ml, whereas 6 patients with Cushing's syndrome caused by ectopic ACTH production had levels in the range of 21 to 390 ng/100 ml. One patient with Cushing's syndrome due to an adrenal adenoma had undetectable DOC, whereas 4 of 6 patients with adrenal carcinoma had elevated DOC levels. Plasma DOC was elevated in patients with hypertension caused by either 11β-hydroxylase or 17-hydroxylase deficiency, but was normal in all patients with essential hypertension, including those with low plasma renin activity and normal aldosterone secretion rates. Plasma DOC levels were also normal in patients with elevated plasma renin activity and secondary aldosteronism.