Studies on adrenal cortical activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: The diurnal pattern and twenty-four hour levels of urinary total 17-hydroxycorticosteroids and 17-ketosteroids

Abstract

The total and diurnal patterns of excretion of 17-hydroxycorticosteroids and 17-ketosteroids were studied in both ambulatory and hospitalized rheumatoid patients and in comparable controls. While daily excretion of 17-ketosteroids was within normal limits, the excretion of 17-hydroxycorticosteroids was diminished, due to a lower output during the early morning hours.