Determination of cortisol and cortisone in serum by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)

Objective To investigate the activity of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, an effective analytic method for measuring the ratio of cortisol and cortisone was developed. Methods Gradient HPLC was used. Results The linear regression equations for cortisol and cortisone were Y =-0.425+0.010 X and Y =-0.163+0.050 X ; the percentages of their average recovery were(102.5±3.6)% and(97.6±6.0)%, respectively. The serum concentrations of cortisol and cortisone in 82 healthy volunteers were(132.2±44.5) μg·L -1 and (19.7±5.0) μg·L -1 , and the ratio of cortisol and cortisone was 6.89±2.26. Conclusion This method can satisfy the requirements for measuring human serum glucocorticoid, being simple, sensitive and credible.