Comprehensive study of urinary cortisol metabolites in hyperthyroid and hypothyroid patients.

Objective: To further analyse the significance and mutual relationship of thyroid function-linked alterations in cortisol metabolism that have been separately and variously reported.

Patients And Measurements: Twenty-four-hour urine samples from 21 patients with hyperthyroidism (Graves' disease), 16 patients with hypothyroidism (Hashimoto's thyroiditis), 21 healthy age- and sex-matched controls for hyperthyroidism, and 16 healthy age- and sex-matched controls for hypothyroidism were evaluated for 6beta-hydroxycortisol (6beta-OHF), tetrahydrocortisol (THF), tetrahydrocortisone (THE), allo-tetrahydrocortisol (allo-THF), urinary free cortisol (UFF), urinary free cortisone (UFE) and 17-hydroxycorticosteroid (17-OHCS).

Results: Urinary 17-OHCS, THE and allo-THF levels increased considerably in hyperthyroid patients compared to the controls, while UFF and THF showed no difference between the two groups.