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Decreased circulating cortisol level

MedGen UID:
322961
Concept ID:
C1836623
Finding
Synonyms: Low plasma cortisol; Low to undetectable plasma cortisol
 
HPO: HP:0008163

Definition

Abnormally reduced concentration of cortisol in the blood. [from HPO]

Term Hierarchy

CClinical test,  RResearch test,  OOMIM,  GGeneReviews,  VClinVar  
  • CROGVDecreased circulating cortisol level

Conditions with this feature

Pallister-Hall syndrome
MedGen UID:
120514
Concept ID:
C0265220
Disease or Syndrome
GLI3-related Pallister-Hall syndrome (GLI3-PHS) is characterized by a spectrum of anomalies ranging from polydactyly, asymptomatic bifid epiglottis, and hypothalamic hamartoma at the mild end to laryngotracheal cleft with neonatal lethality at the severe end. Individuals with mild GLI3-PHS may be incorrectly diagnosed as having isolated postaxial polydactyly type A. Individuals with GLI3-PHS can have pituitary insufficiency and may die as neonates from undiagnosed and untreated adrenal insufficiency.
Glucocorticoid deficiency with achalasia
MedGen UID:
82889
Concept ID:
C0271742
Disease or Syndrome
Triple A syndrome is an inherited condition characterized by three specific features: achalasia, Addison disease, and alacrima. Achalasia is a disorder that affects the ability to move food through the esophagus, the tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach. It can lead to severe feeding difficulties and low blood glucose (hypoglycemia). Addison disease, also known as primary adrenal insufficiency, is caused by abnormal function of the small hormone-producing glands on top of each kidney (adrenal glands). The main features of Addison disease include fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, low blood pressure, and darkening of the skin. The third major feature of triple A syndrome is a reduced or absent ability to secrete tears (alacrima). Most people with triple A syndrome have all three of these features, although some have only two.\n\nMany of the features of triple A syndrome are caused by dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system. This part of the nervous system controls involuntary body processes such as digestion, blood pressure, and body temperature. People with triple A syndrome often experience abnormal sweating, difficulty regulating blood pressure, unequal pupil size (anisocoria), and other signs and symptoms of autonomic nervous system dysfunction (dysautonomia).\n\nPeople with this condition may have other neurological abnormalities, such as developmental delay, intellectual disability, speech problems (dysarthria), and a small head size (microcephaly). In addition, affected individuals commonly experience muscle weakness, movement problems, and nerve abnormalities in their extremities (peripheral neuropathy). Some develop optic atrophy, which is the degeneration (atrophy) of the nerves that carry information from the eyes to the brain. Many of the neurological symptoms of triple A syndrome worsen over time.\n\nPeople with triple A syndrome frequently develop a thickening of the outer layer of skin (hyperkeratosis) on the palms of their hands and the soles of their feet. Other skin abnormalities may also be present in people with this condition.\n\nAlacrima is usually the first noticeable sign of triple A syndrome, as it becomes apparent early in life that affected children produce little or no tears while crying. They develop Addison disease and achalasia during childhood or adolescence, and most of the neurologic features of triple A syndrome begin during adulthood. The signs and symptoms of this condition vary among affected individuals, even among members of the same family.
Congenital isolated adrenocorticotropic hormone deficiency
MedGen UID:
137968
Concept ID:
C0342388
Disease or Syndrome
Congenital isolated adrenocorticotropic hormone deficiency (IAD) is characterized by severe hypoglycemia in the neonatal period, associated with seizures in about half of cases, prolonged cholestatic jaundice, and very low plasma ACTH levels with no significant response to corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH; 122560). Plasma cortisol levels are also extremely low (Vallette-Kasic et al., 2005). TBX19 is required for initiation of transcription of the POMC gene (176830), which produces the precursor peptide from which ACTH is derived (Lamolet et al., 2001).
Congenital adrenal hypoplasia, X-linked
MedGen UID:
87442
Concept ID:
C0342482
Disease or Syndrome
NR0B1-related adrenal hypoplasia congenita includes both X-linked adrenal hypoplasia congenita (X-linked AHC) and Xp21 deletion (previously called complex glycerol kinase deficiency). X-linked AHC is characterized by primary adrenal insufficiency and/or hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH). Adrenal insufficiency is acute infantile onset (average age 3 weeks) in approximately 60% of affected males and childhood onset (ages 1-9 years) in approximately 40%. HH typically manifests in a male with adrenal insufficiency as delayed puberty (i.e., onset age >14 years) and less commonly as arrested puberty at about Tanner Stage 3. Rarely, X-linked AHC manifests initially in early adulthood as delayed-onset adrenal insufficiency, partial HH, and/or infertility. Heterozygous females very occasionally have manifestations of adrenal insufficiency or hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Xp21 deletion includes deletion of NR0B1 (causing X-linked AHC) and GK (causing glycerol kinase deficiency), and in some cases deletion of DMD (causing Duchenne muscular dystrophy). Developmental delay has been reported in males with Xp21 deletion when the deletion extends proximally to include DMD or when larger deletions extend distally to include IL1RAPL1 and DMD.
Obesity due to prohormone convertase I deficiency
MedGen UID:
318777
Concept ID:
C1833053
Disease or Syndrome
Proprotein convertase-1/3 deficiency is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by neonatal severe generalized malabsorptive diarrhea and failure to thrive. As the disease progresses, additional endocrine abnormalities develop, including diabetes insipidus, growth hormone deficiency, primary hypogonadism, adrenal insufficiency, and hypothyroidism (summary by Wilschanski et al., 2014).
Glucocorticoid deficiency 3
MedGen UID:
332252
Concept ID:
C1836621
Disease or Syndrome
Familial isolated glucocorticoid deficiency is an adrenocortical failure characterized by very low levels of plasma cortisol despite high levels of plasma adrenocorticotropin (ACTH). Moreover, the adrenal response to ACTH is severely impaired. There is no mineralocorticoid deficiency and the renin-angiotensin system is not affected (summary by Genin et al., 2002). For a general phenotypic description and a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of familial glucocorticoid deficiency, see GCCD1 (202200).
Corticosteroid-binding globulin deficiency
MedGen UID:
343831
Concept ID:
C1852529
Disease or Syndrome
Corticosteroid-binding globulin deficiency is a condition with subtle signs and symptoms, the most frequent being extreme tiredness (fatigue), especially after physical exertion. Many people with this condition have unusually low blood pressure (hypotension). Some affected individuals have a fatty liver or experience chronic pain, particularly in their muscles. These features vary among affected individuals, even those within the same family.\n\nMany people with corticosteroid-binding globulin deficiency have only one or two of these features; others have no signs and symptoms of the disorder and are only diagnosed after a relative is found to be affected.\n\nSome people with corticosteroid-binding globulin deficiency also have a condition called myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). The features of ME/CFS are prolonged fatigue that interferes with daily activities, as well as general symptoms, such as sore throat or headaches.
Obesity due to pro-opiomelanocortin deficiency
MedGen UID:
341863
Concept ID:
C1857854
Disease or Syndrome
OBAIRH is an autosomal recessive endocrine disorder characterized by early-onset obesity due to severe hyperphagia, pigmentary abnormalities, mainly pale skin and red hair, and secondary hypocortisolism. In the neonatal period, affected individuals are prone to hypoglycemia, hyperbilirubinemia, and cholestasis that may result in death if not treated. The disorder results from mutation in the POMC gene, which encodes a preproprotein that is processed into a range of bioactive peptides, including alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) and ACTH (summary by Kuhnen et al., 2016 and Clement et al., 2008).
Antley-Bixler syndrome with genital anomalies and disordered steroidogenesis
MedGen UID:
461449
Concept ID:
C3150099
Disease or Syndrome
Cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase deficiency (PORD) is a disorder of steroidogenesis with a broad phenotypic spectrum including cortisol deficiency, altered sex steroid synthesis, disorders of sex development (DSD), and skeletal malformations of the Antley-Bixler syndrome (ABS) phenotype. Cortisol deficiency is usually partial, with some baseline cortisol production but failure to mount an adequate cortisol response in stress. Mild mineralocorticoid excess can be present and causes arterial hypertension, usually presenting in young adulthood. Manifestations of altered sex steroid synthesis include ambiguous genitalia/DSD in both males and females, large ovarian cysts in females, poor masculinization and delayed puberty in males, and maternal virilization during pregnancy with an affected fetus. Skeletal malformations can manifest as craniosynostosis, mid-face retrusion with proptosis and choanal stenosis or atresia, low-set dysplastic ears with stenotic external auditory canals, hydrocephalus, radiohumeral synostosis, neonatal fractures, congenital bowing of the long bones, joint contractures, arachnodactyly, and clubfeet; other anomalies observed include urinary tract anomalies (renal pelvic dilatation, vesicoureteral reflux). Cognitive impairment is of minor concern and likely associated with the severity of malformations; studies of developmental outcomes are lacking.
Glucocorticoid deficiency 4
MedGen UID:
766501
Concept ID:
C3553587
Disease or Syndrome
Familial glucocorticoid deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by an inability of the adrenal cortex to produce cortisol in response to stimulation by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). Affected individuals typically present within the first few months of life with symptoms related to cortisol deficiency, including failure to thrive, recurrent illnesses or infections, hypoglycemia, convulsions, and shock. The disease is life-threatening if untreated (summary by Meimaridou et al., 2012). For a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of familial glucocorticoid deficiency, see GCCD1 (202200).
Glucocorticoid deficiency 1
MedGen UID:
885551
Concept ID:
C4049650
Disease or Syndrome
Familial glucocorticoid deficiency is an autosomal recessive disorder resulting from defects in the action of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) to stimulate glucocorticoid synthesis in the adrenal. Production of mineralocorticoids by the adrenal is normal. Patients present in early life with low or undetectable cortisol and, because of the failure of the negative feedback loop to the pituitary and hypothalamus, grossly elevated ACTH levels (summary by Clark et al., 2009). Genetic Heterogeneity of Familial Glucocorticoid Deficiency Familial glucocorticoid deficiency-2 (GCCD2; 607398) is caused by mutation in the MRAP gene (609196) on chromosome 21q22. GCCD3 (609197) has been mapped to chromosome 8q11.2-q13.2. GCCD4 with or without mineralocorticoid deficiency (614736) is caused by mutation in the NNT gene (607878) on chromosome 5p12. GCCD5 (617825) is caused by mutation in the TXNRD2 gene (606448) on chromosome 22q11.
Glucocorticoid deficiency 2
MedGen UID:
891117
Concept ID:
C4049714
Disease or Syndrome
Familial glucocorticoid deficiency is an autosomal recessive disorder resulting from resistance to the action of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) on the adrenal cortex, which stimulates glucocorticoid production. Affected individuals are deficient in cortisol and, if untreated, are likely to succumb to hypoglycemia or overwhelming infection in infancy or childhood (summary by Metherell et al., 2005). For a general phenotypic description and a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of familial glucocorticoid deficiency, see GCCD1 (202200).
Glucocorticoid deficiency 5
MedGen UID:
1614419
Concept ID:
C4540522
Disease or Syndrome
Familial glucocorticoid deficiency-5 (GCCD5) is characterized by resistance to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and isolated glucocorticoid deficiency, with typical biochemical findings of low serum cortisol levels and high plasma ACTH. Patients commonly present with hyperpigmentation (Prasad et al., 2014). For a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of familial glucocorticoid deficiency, see GCCD1 (202200).
Combined oxidative phosphorylation deficiency 40
MedGen UID:
1714731
Concept ID:
C5394232
Disease or Syndrome
Combined oxidative phosphorylation deficiency-40 (COXPD40) is an autosomal recessive mitochondrial disorder with onset in utero or soon after birth. Affected individuals have severe hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, poor growth, and sensorineural hearing loss. Laboratory studies show evidence of mitochondrial dysfunction, such as lactic acidosis. Patient-derived tissues and cells show variably decreased activities of mitochondrial respiratory complexes I, III, IV, and V. The disorder is lethal, with no reported patients surviving past infancy (summary by Friederich et al., 2018). For a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of combined oxidative phosphorylation deficiency, see COXPD1 (609060).
Combined oxidative phosphorylation deficiency 41
MedGen UID:
1711853
Concept ID:
C5394236
Disease or Syndrome
Combined oxidative phosphorylation deficiency 42
MedGen UID:
1709379
Concept ID:
C5394237
Disease or Syndrome
Combined oxidative phosphorylation deficiency-42 (COXPD42) is an autosomal recessive metabolic disorder characterized by onset of cardiomyopathy, respiratory insufficiency, lactic metabolic acidosis, and anemia in the first months of life. Patient tissue shows variable impairment of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation affecting mtDNA-encoded subunits I, III, and IV. All reported affected infants have died in the first year of life (summary by Friederich et al., 2018). For a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of combined oxidative phosphorylation deficiency, see COXPD1 (609060).
Neurooculorenal syndrome
MedGen UID:
1841013
Concept ID:
C5830377
Disease or Syndrome
Neurooculorenal syndrome (NORS) is an autosomal recessive developmental disorder with highly variable clinical manifestations involving several organ systems. Some affected individuals present in utero with renal agenesis and structural brain abnormalities incompatible with life, whereas others present in infancy with a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by global developmental delay and dysmorphic facial features that may be associated with congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT). Additional more variable features may include ocular anomalies, most commonly strabismus, congenital heart defects, and pituitary hormone deficiency. Brain imaging usually shows structural midline defects, including dysgenesis of the corpus callosum and hindbrain. There is variation in the severity, manifestations, and expressivity of the phenotype, even within families (Rasmussen et al., 2018; Munch et al., 2022).

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Wang F, Giskeødegård GF, Skarra S, Engstrøm MJ, Hagen L, Geisler J, Mikkola TS, Tikkanen MJ, Debik J, Reidunsdatter RJ, Bathen TF
Clin Exp Med 2023 Nov;23(7):3883-3893. Epub 2023 Jul 3 doi: 10.1007/s10238-023-01109-x. PMID: 37395895Free PMC Article
Hays WB, Czosnowski Q
J Pharm Pract 2022 Dec;35(6):1057-1059. Epub 2021 May 31 doi: 10.1177/08971900211017487. PMID: 34056961
Lakshminrusimha S, Konduri GG, Steinhorn RH
J Perinatol 2016 Jun;36 Suppl 2:S12-9. doi: 10.1038/jp.2016.44. PMID: 27225960

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Zare R, Devrim-Lanpir A, Guazzotti S, Ali Redha A, Prokopidis K, Spadaccini D, Cannataro R, Cione E, Henselmans M, Aragon AA
Sports Med 2023 Dec;53(12):2417-2446. Epub 2023 Aug 21 doi: 10.1007/s40279-023-01899-w. PMID: 37603200Free PMC Article
Kangasniemi MH, Arffman RK, Haverinen A, Luiro K, Hustad S, Heikinheimo O, Tapanainen JS, Piltonen TT
Contraception 2022 Dec;116:59-65. Epub 2022 Sep 7 doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2022.08.009. PMID: 36084710
Caballero-García A, Pascual-Fernández J, Noriega-González DC, Bello HJ, Pons-Biescas A, Roche E, Córdova-Martínez A
Nutrients 2021 Sep 8;13(9) doi: 10.3390/nu13093133. PMID: 34579009Free PMC Article
Jamshed H, Beyl RA, Della Manna DL, Yang ES, Ravussin E, Peterson CM
Nutrients 2019 May 30;11(6) doi: 10.3390/nu11061234. PMID: 31151228Free PMC Article
Weerapong P, Hume PA, Kolt GS
Sports Med 2005;35(3):235-56. doi: 10.2165/00007256-200535030-00004. PMID: 15730338

Diagnosis

Peeters B, Langouche L, Van den Berghe G
Compr Physiol 2017 Dec 12;8(1):283-298. doi: 10.1002/cphy.c170022. PMID: 29357129
Karagüzel G, Cakir E
Minerva Endocrinol 2014 Dec;39(4):235-43. Epub 2014 Jul 29 PMID: 25069846
Staufenbiel SM, Penninx BW, Spijker AT, Elzinga BM, van Rossum EF
Psychoneuroendocrinology 2013 Aug;38(8):1220-35. Epub 2012 Dec 17 doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2012.11.015. PMID: 23253896
Breckwoldt M, Zahradnik HP, Wieacker P
Hum Reprod 1989 Aug;4(6):601-4. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.humrep.a136950. PMID: 2674189
Gurka G, Rocklin RE
JAMA 1987 Nov 27;258(20):2983-7. PMID: 3312681

Therapy

Zare R, Devrim-Lanpir A, Guazzotti S, Ali Redha A, Prokopidis K, Spadaccini D, Cannataro R, Cione E, Henselmans M, Aragon AA
Sports Med 2023 Dec;53(12):2417-2446. Epub 2023 Aug 21 doi: 10.1007/s40279-023-01899-w. PMID: 37603200Free PMC Article
Kangasniemi MH, Arffman RK, Haverinen A, Luiro K, Hustad S, Heikinheimo O, Tapanainen JS, Piltonen TT
Contraception 2022 Dec;116:59-65. Epub 2022 Sep 7 doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2022.08.009. PMID: 36084710
Caballero-García A, Pascual-Fernández J, Noriega-González DC, Bello HJ, Pons-Biescas A, Roche E, Córdova-Martínez A
Nutrients 2021 Sep 8;13(9) doi: 10.3390/nu13093133. PMID: 34579009Free PMC Article
Jamshed H, Beyl RA, Della Manna DL, Yang ES, Ravussin E, Peterson CM
Nutrients 2019 May 30;11(6) doi: 10.3390/nu11061234. PMID: 31151228Free PMC Article
Drobnis EZ, Nangia AK
Adv Exp Med Biol 2017;1034:13-24. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-69535-8_3. PMID: 29256123

Prognosis

Wang F, Giskeødegård GF, Skarra S, Engstrøm MJ, Hagen L, Geisler J, Mikkola TS, Tikkanen MJ, Debik J, Reidunsdatter RJ, Bathen TF
Clin Exp Med 2023 Nov;23(7):3883-3893. Epub 2023 Jul 3 doi: 10.1007/s10238-023-01109-x. PMID: 37395895Free PMC Article
Obrador E, Salvador-Palmer R, López-Blanch R, Oriol-Caballo M, Moreno-Murciano P, Estrela JM
Cells 2023 Jan 26;12(3) doi: 10.3390/cells12030418. PMID: 36766760Free PMC Article
Taylor BK, Fung MH, Frenzel MR, Johnson HJ, Willett MP, Badura-Brack AS, White SF, Wilson TW
Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol 2022 Dec;50(12):1543-1555. Epub 2022 Sep 1 doi: 10.1007/s10802-022-00967-5. PMID: 36048374Free PMC Article
Sarapultsev A, Sarapultsev P, Dremencov E, Komelkova M, Tseilikman O, Tseilikman V
Stress 2020 Nov;23(6):651-661. Epub 2020 May 22 doi: 10.1080/10253890.2020.1766020. PMID: 32401103
Peeters B, Langouche L, Van den Berghe G
Compr Physiol 2017 Dec 12;8(1):283-298. doi: 10.1002/cphy.c170022. PMID: 29357129

Clinical prediction guides

Wang F, Giskeødegård GF, Skarra S, Engstrøm MJ, Hagen L, Geisler J, Mikkola TS, Tikkanen MJ, Debik J, Reidunsdatter RJ, Bathen TF
Clin Exp Med 2023 Nov;23(7):3883-3893. Epub 2023 Jul 3 doi: 10.1007/s10238-023-01109-x. PMID: 37395895Free PMC Article
Taylor BK, Fung MH, Frenzel MR, Johnson HJ, Willett MP, Badura-Brack AS, White SF, Wilson TW
Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol 2022 Dec;50(12):1543-1555. Epub 2022 Sep 1 doi: 10.1007/s10802-022-00967-5. PMID: 36048374Free PMC Article
Sarapultsev A, Sarapultsev P, Dremencov E, Komelkova M, Tseilikman O, Tseilikman V
Stress 2020 Nov;23(6):651-661. Epub 2020 May 22 doi: 10.1080/10253890.2020.1766020. PMID: 32401103
Weerapong P, Hume PA, Kolt GS
Sports Med 2005;35(3):235-56. doi: 10.2165/00007256-200535030-00004. PMID: 15730338
Woolf PD
Crit Care Med 1992 Feb;20(2):216-26. doi: 10.1097/00003246-199202000-00011. PMID: 1737456

Recent systematic reviews

Zare R, Devrim-Lanpir A, Guazzotti S, Ali Redha A, Prokopidis K, Spadaccini D, Cannataro R, Cione E, Henselmans M, Aragon AA
Sports Med 2023 Dec;53(12):2417-2446. Epub 2023 Aug 21 doi: 10.1007/s40279-023-01899-w. PMID: 37603200Free PMC Article
Chen H, Jin Z, Sun C, Santos HO, Kord Varkaneh H
Int J Clin Pract 2021 Nov;75(11):e14698. Epub 2021 Aug 9 doi: 10.1111/ijcp.14698. PMID: 34342920
Staufenbiel SM, Penninx BW, Spijker AT, Elzinga BM, van Rossum EF
Psychoneuroendocrinology 2013 Aug;38(8):1220-35. Epub 2012 Dec 17 doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2012.11.015. PMID: 23253896

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