• Sabine M Staufenbiel, Cornelie D Andela, Laura Manenschijn, Alberto M Pereira, Elisabeth F C van Rossum, and Nienke R Biermasz.
• Department of Internal Medicine (S.M.S., L.M., E.F.C.v.R.), Erasmus Medical Center, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands; and Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases and Center for Endocrine Tumors (C.D.A., A.M.P., N.R.B.), Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands.
• J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 2015 Jun 1;100(6):2456-62.

ContextIntrinsic imperfections and lack of reliable biomarkers preclude optimal individual dosing of hydrocortisone replacement in adrenal insufficiency (AI). However, the clinical relevance of optimal dosing is exemplified by frequently occurring side effects of overreplacement and the dangers of underreplacement. Cortisol in scalp hair has been identified as a retrospective biomarker for long-term cortisol exposure. We compared hair cortisol concentrations (CORT(hair)) of patients with primary or secondary AI on replacement therapy with those of patient controls with a pituitary disease without AI (PCs) and of healthy controls (HCs).MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, hair samples and anthropometric data were collected in 132 AI patients (52 males), 42 PCs (11 males), and 195 HCs (90 males). The proximal 3 cm of hair were used. CORT(hair) were measured using an ELISA.ResultsCORT(hair) were higher in AI patients than in HCs and PCs (P < .001), and hydrocortisone dose correlated with CORT(hair) (P = .04). Male AI patients demonstrated higher CORT(hair) than female patients (P < .001). AI patients had higher body mass index (BMI) than HCs (P < .001), and BMI correlated with CORT(hair) in the whole sample (P < .001).ConclusionPhysiological hydrocortisone replacement is associated with increased CORT(hair). The association between CORT(hair) and BMI could suggest a mild overtreatment that may lead to adverse anthropomorphic side effects, especially in males. CORT(hair) measurements may be a promising additional tool to monitor cumulative hydrocortisone replacement in AI.

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