Premium
Hair cortisol concentrations in chronic central serous chorioretinopathy
Author(s) -
Haalen Femke M.,
Dijk Elon H. C.,
Savas Mesut,
Brinks Joost,
Dekkers Olaf M.,
Dijkman Greet,
Rossum Elisabeth F. C.,
Biermasz Nienke R.,
Boon Camiel J. F.,
Pereira Alberto M.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/aos.14269
Subject(s) - medicine , serous fluid , cohort , glucocorticoid , population , endocrinology , gastroenterology , environmental health
Purpose Central serous chorioretinopathy ( CSC ), a distinct form of macular degeneration, has been associated with glucocorticoid use and possibly also with an increased endogenous activity of the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal ( HPA ) axis. To estimate long‐term glucocorticoid exposure, measurement of hair cortisol concentrations ( HCC ) has emerged. This cross‐sectional study aimed to investigate HCC , as a reflection of chronic endogenous steroid exposure, in a cohort of patients with chronic CSC ( cCSC ). Methods Hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) were determined in 48 patients with cCSC and 230 population‐based controls (Lifelines cohort study), not using exogenous corticosteroids. Results Increased HCC (defined as >10.49 pg/mg) were present in 2 (4%) patients with cCSC and 13 (6%) controls. Mean HCC values were not different between patients and controls, and no difference in HCC was found between patients with active cCSC disease and patients with inactive disease. No correlation between HCC and urinary free cortisol ( UFC ) levels in patients with cCSC was found. Conclusions This study shows that HCC in patients with cCSC are not elevated compared to population‐based controls, and no association between HCC and cCSC severity was found. This finding questions the previous suggestion that cCSC is associated with increased HPA axis activity. In line, HCC do not seem useful in monitoring cCSC disease activity.