Ultradian rhythm of glucocorticoids: new diagnostic and treatment strategy of hypothalamic - pituitary - adrenal axis disorders?
Abstract
Glucocorticoids are released into the circulation under circadian fashion. Blood collection every 10 minutes over 24 hours revealed that circadian rhythm is actually made up from underlying ultradian pattern of glucocorticoids with frequency of about one pulse per hour.
Recently, the research focused on ultradian rhythm significantly increased and showed its crucial relevance for gene regulation at tissue level and maintenance of homeostasis. Abnormal ultradian rhythm might contribute to prime out metabolic and psychiatric diseases and unphysiological continual replacement therapy appears to cause unwanted side effects of treatment.
Despite numerous attempts of circadian rhythm replacement by advanced medication the mortality of patients with adrenal insufficiency remains still high.