Salivary cortisol for screening of Cushing’s syndrome in children

ized by changes in diurnal cortisol variation and total or partial resistance to cortisol suppression by dexa-methasone (DEX). Diagnosing CS is a challenge espe-cially in childhood and requires differentiation from primary obesity. The aim was verify the efficacy of salivary cortisol in differentiating primary obesity from CS in children. SUBJECTS AND METHODS We studied 11 patients with CS confirmed by standard laboratory investi-gation and surgical findings aged 1–16 years, and 21 age-matched primary obese controls. Salivary samples were collected at 0900 h, 2300 h, and after an overnight DEX suppression test (20 mg/kg up to 1 mg). Salivary cortisol was measured by RIA. RESULTS Diurnal variation of salivary cortisol level