Serum cortisol levels in patients with bronchial asthma. Relationship to glucocorticoid therapy and patient age.

Serum cortisol levels were examined in 94 patients with bronchial asthma in relation to dose of glucocorticoids and age. 1. The level of serum cortisol was significantly lower in group A patients, treated with glucocorticoids (prednisolone of 5mg/day or more) for more than 2 years, (2.4±1.2mcg/㎗) than in group B, treated with glucocorticoids (prednisolone of 5mg or less) for less than 2 years, (6.8±3.7mcg/㎗) (p<0.001) and in group C, treated without glucocorticoids, (12.6±3.9mcg/㎗) (p<0.001). The serum cortisol level was also significantly lower in group B than in group C (p<0.001). 2. The level of serum cortisol was significantly lower in patients over the age of 70 compared to that in those aged between 0 and 39 years (p<0.01) and those between 40 and 49 (p<0.05), and those between 50 and 59 (p<0.02). The level was also lower in patients between 60 and 69 compared to that in those between 0 and 39, however, this was not significant. These results demonstrate that the level of serum cortisol decreases by long-term glucocorticoid regimen and with aging.

気管支喘息94例を対象に,副腎皮質ホルモン投与および年齢との関連のもとに,血清コーチゾール値の変動を観察した｡まず副腎皮質ホルモンの投与量および投与期間により以下の3群に分けて検討した｡グループA :副腎皮質ホルモン,プレドニソロンに換算して1日5mg以上を2年間以上にわたり使用している症例,グループB:プレドニソロン1日5mg以下で2年間以内の使用症例, グループC:副腎皮質ホルモンを全く使用していない症例｡その結果,グループAの血清コーチゾ-ル値(2.4±1.2mcg/㎗)は,グループB (6.8±3.7mcg/㎗)(p 0.01)やC(12.6±3.9mcg/㎗)(p 0.001)に比べ有意に低い値であった｡2､グループCでは,70才以上の症例の血清コーチゾ-ル値は,0-39才の症例(p 0.0l),40-49才の症例(p 0.05),そして,50-59才の症例(p 0.02)に比べ有意に低い値であった｡これらの結果は,血清コーチゾール値は,副腎 皮質ホルモンの投与量や投与期間以外にも､加齢による影響を受ける可能性を示唆している｡