Cortisol response to dexamethasone and noradrenergic function in depression

Abstract

— Positive correlations between measures of hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal (HPA)‐axis activity and noradrenergic turnover have been reported in depression. To investigate this relationship the authors measured peak postdexamethasone cortisol levels (8 a.m., 4 p.m. and 11 p.m.) and the 24‐hour urinary 3‐methoxy‐4‐hydroxy‐phenylglycol (MHPG) flow in 84 depressed patients. The results show that there is no positive association between those measures of HPA‐axis and noradrenergic activity. On the contrary, patients with severe non‐suppression (≥10 μg/dl or 277 nmol/l) tended to have a lower MHPG‐excretion.