ADRENAL GLUCOCORTICOIDAL FUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION - EXAMINATION OF EXOGENOUS CORTISOL ELIMINATION

The paper yields the results of the study into the elimination of exogenous cortisol from the blood bed in 26 patients with myocardial infarction. It is concluded that the nature of cortisol elimination may reflect the natural history and prediction of myocardial infarction. In terms of the body tissue demand, two type of elimination are identified: retarded (a favorable type) and accelerated (an unfavorable type). The data on the nature of cortisol elimination may serve as an indication for glucocorticoidal therapy. The baseline cortisol concentrations fail to reflect the nature of glucocorticoid metabolism in patients with myocardial infarction.