Abstract
Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) may influence adrenocortical function, lipid metabolism and glucose tolerance in later life. Both cortisol (F) synthesis and metabolism contribute to serum F concentrations. 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11β-HSD2) enzyme converts F to biologically inactive cortisone (E). Decreased 11β-HSD2 activity has been suggested for a reason to IUGR and to its metabolic consequences. Our aim was to develop a specific liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for analysing serum F and E concentrations, to determine the F/E ratios, and to correlate them with serum lipid concentrations, insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), and catch-up growth in children born small for gestational age (SGA). The mean serum F and E concentrations, and F/E ratios did not differ between the SGA and their control children at 12 y age. The SGA children in the highest F/E ratio quartile had poorer gain in height between 0-12 y, and higher serum total and LDL cholesterol levels than those with lower F/E ratios. In logistic regression analysis, high LDL cholesterol, high HOMA-IR, and early pubertal stage associated with high F/E ratio in the SGA children. In conclusion, our LC-MS/MS method enables a reliable measurement of both F and E concentrations from a single serum sample. High serum F/E ratio may be associated with IUGR, its metabolic consequences, and poor catch-up growth in a subset of SGA children.
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Abbreviations
- IUGR:
-
intrauterine growth restriction
- F:
-
cortisol
- E:
-
cortisone
- 11β-HSD2:
-
11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2
- LC-MS/MS:
-
liquid chromatography – tandem mass spectrometry
- HOMA-IR:
-
insulin resistance index
- SGA:
-
small for gestational age
- AGA:
-
appropriate for gestational age
- HPA:
-
hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal
- PSEH:
-
parent-specific expected height
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Acknowledgements
This study was supported by Kuopio University Hospital, Maud Kuistila Foundation, Sigrid Juselius Foundation, Pediatric Research Foundation, and Academy of Finland.
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Tenhola, S., Turpeinen, U., Halonen, P. et al. Association of Serum Lipid Concentrations, Insulin Resistance Index and Catch-Up Growth with Serum Cortisol/Cortisone Ratio by Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry in Children Born Small for Gestational Age. Pediatr Res 58, 467–471 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1203/01.pdr.0000176908.93031.97
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/01.pdr.0000176908.93031.97
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