Exploring Reference Values for Hair Cortisol: Hair Weight Versus Hair Protein
October 2020
in “
Therapeutic drug monitoring
”
Studysummary In this study, researchers found that targeting a tacrolimus trough level of 4–7 ng/mL after liver transplantation resulted in comparable graft and patient survival rates to higher levels, while improving liver and kidney function markers.
Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer
The study investigated whether hair protein concentration (HPC) could serve as a reference value for hair cortisol concentration (HCC) instead of the commonly used hair weight. Involving 18 hair samples, the researchers found that HCC correlated significantly with hair sample weight (r = 0.520, P = 0.027) but not with HPC (r = 0.393, P = 0.106). Additionally, hair sample weight was a better predictor of HCC than HPC. The study concluded that hair sample weight is a more suitable reference value for HCC, recommending the standard cortisol-to-weight ratio for measuring cumulative cortisol activity in scalp hair, though the cortisol-to-protein ratio could be an alternative if hair weight is unavailable.
