Faculty Opinions Recommendation of Clinical Applications of Cortisol Measurements in Hair
February 2017
in “
Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature
”
TLDR Hair cortisol measurement is a promising, non-invasive tool for monitoring cortisol exposure over time.
The document discussed the potential of using cortisol measurements in human scalp hair as a biomarker for assessing individual cortisol exposure over time, particularly in the context of diagnosing isolated pituitary deficiencies. This method was highlighted as a non-invasive, easy-to-perform procedure with the advantage of long-term sample storage at room temperature. While initially used in forensic contexts, hair cortisol analysis was proposed as a promising tool for monitoring therapy in patients with corticotroph insufficiency, rather than for diagnostic purposes. The article emphasized its utility in retrospective disease onset determination, as demonstrated in a case of primary adrenal insufficiency.
