Baseline morning cortisol level as a predictor of pituitary–adrenal reserve: a comparison across three assays

Abstract

We have defined assay-specific morning cortisol levels that are able to predict the integrity of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis. We propose that this represents a valid tool for the initial assessment of adrenal function and has the potential to obviate the need for dynamic testing in a significant number of patients.