Abstract
Background. Amyotrophic Lateral sclerosis (ALS) is associatedwith a significant distress, being linked to changes in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity. A loss of cortisol circadian rhythmicity in ALS patients was suggested, while more recently an increased plasma cortisol level in the disease has been reported. Objective. To assay the circadian plasma cortisol level in ALS and to study its relationship with the clinical phenotype and the rate of disease progression. Patients andmethods. 135 ALS patients (Bulbar, 33; Spinal, 102;M/F=1.73) and 110 controls (not affected by neurological or psychiatric disorders, free of drugs; M/F=1.75) were recruited. Disease progression was scored with FS.Morning and evening plasma cortisol levels (μg/dl)were assayed fromfasting ALS patients and controls using Elecsys® Cortisol Immunoassay System. Results.We found that themorning level of cortisol in ALS patientswas higher than controls (morning: ALS, 15.2 [11.5-18.9] vs Controls, 11.4 [8.8-14.3], p b 0.001; evening: ALS, 7.5[4.7-11.8] vs Controls, 7.9[5.4-10.0], p=0.6). Furthermore, the hormone's level was higher in the spinal-onset group (Spinal, 15.9[11.9-19.0] vs Bulbar, 13.5[10.1-18.6] vs controls, 11.4[8.8-14.3], p b 0.001) and in patients with intermediate/rapid disease course. Conclusions.Morning plasma cortisol level is increased in ALS, mainly in spinal-onset patients and in those with intermediate/rapidly progressing disease. The plasmatic changes of the steroid hormone appear however too small to make it a sensitive biochemical marker in this severe neurodegenerative disease.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 282-286 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Journal of the Neurological Sciences |
| Volume | 358 |
| Issue number | 1-2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Feb 14 2015 |
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Keywords
- ALS
- ALSFRS-R
- Biomarker
- Cortisol
- Disease progression
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Neurology
- Neurology
Cite this
Plasma cortisol level in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. / Spataro, Rossella; Volanti, Paolo; Vitale, Francesco; Meli, Francesco; Colletti, Tiziana; Di Natale, Antonino; La Bella, Vincenzo.
In: Journal of the Neurological Sciences, Vol. 358, No. 1-2, 14.02.2015, p. 282-286.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Plasma cortisol level in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
AU - Spataro, Rossella
AU - Volanti, Paolo
AU - Vitale, Francesco
AU - Meli, Francesco
AU - Colletti, Tiziana
AU - Di Natale, Antonino
AU - La Bella, Vincenzo
PY - 2015/2/14
Y1 - 2015/2/14
N2 - Background. Amyotrophic Lateral sclerosis (ALS) is associatedwith a significant distress, being linked to changes in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity. A loss of cortisol circadian rhythmicity in ALS patients was suggested, while more recently an increased plasma cortisol level in the disease has been reported. Objective. To assay the circadian plasma cortisol level in ALS and to study its relationship with the clinical phenotype and the rate of disease progression. Patients andmethods. 135 ALS patients (Bulbar, 33; Spinal, 102;M/F=1.73) and 110 controls (not affected by neurological or psychiatric disorders, free of drugs; M/F=1.75) were recruited. Disease progression was scored with FS.Morning and evening plasma cortisol levels (μg/dl)were assayed fromfasting ALS patients and controls using Elecsys® Cortisol Immunoassay System. Results.We found that themorning level of cortisol in ALS patientswas higher than controls (morning: ALS, 15.2 [11.5-18.9] vs Controls, 11.4 [8.8-14.3], p b 0.001; evening: ALS, 7.5[4.7-11.8] vs Controls, 7.9[5.4-10.0], p=0.6). Furthermore, the hormone's level was higher in the spinal-onset group (Spinal, 15.9[11.9-19.0] vs Bulbar, 13.5[10.1-18.6] vs controls, 11.4[8.8-14.3], p b 0.001) and in patients with intermediate/rapid disease course. Conclusions.Morning plasma cortisol level is increased in ALS, mainly in spinal-onset patients and in those with intermediate/rapidly progressing disease. The plasmatic changes of the steroid hormone appear however too small to make it a sensitive biochemical marker in this severe neurodegenerative disease.
AB - Background. Amyotrophic Lateral sclerosis (ALS) is associatedwith a significant distress, being linked to changes in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity. A loss of cortisol circadian rhythmicity in ALS patients was suggested, while more recently an increased plasma cortisol level in the disease has been reported. Objective. To assay the circadian plasma cortisol level in ALS and to study its relationship with the clinical phenotype and the rate of disease progression. Patients andmethods. 135 ALS patients (Bulbar, 33; Spinal, 102;M/F=1.73) and 110 controls (not affected by neurological or psychiatric disorders, free of drugs; M/F=1.75) were recruited. Disease progression was scored with FS.Morning and evening plasma cortisol levels (μg/dl)were assayed fromfasting ALS patients and controls using Elecsys® Cortisol Immunoassay System. Results.We found that themorning level of cortisol in ALS patientswas higher than controls (morning: ALS, 15.2 [11.5-18.9] vs Controls, 11.4 [8.8-14.3], p b 0.001; evening: ALS, 7.5[4.7-11.8] vs Controls, 7.9[5.4-10.0], p=0.6). Furthermore, the hormone's level was higher in the spinal-onset group (Spinal, 15.9[11.9-19.0] vs Bulbar, 13.5[10.1-18.6] vs controls, 11.4[8.8-14.3], p b 0.001) and in patients with intermediate/rapid disease course. Conclusions.Morning plasma cortisol level is increased in ALS, mainly in spinal-onset patients and in those with intermediate/rapidly progressing disease. The plasmatic changes of the steroid hormone appear however too small to make it a sensitive biochemical marker in this severe neurodegenerative disease.
KW - ALS
KW - ALSFRS-R
KW - Biomarker
KW - Cortisol
KW - Disease progression
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84956721606&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84956721606&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jns.2015.09.011
DO - 10.1016/j.jns.2015.09.011
M3 - Article
C2 - 26384616
AN - SCOPUS:84956721606
VL - 358
SP - 282
EP - 286
JO - Journal of the Neurological Sciences
JF - Journal of the Neurological Sciences
SN - 0022-510X
IS - 1-2
ER -