17-OH progesterone: How the test is performed, Prepare for the Test, Why the test is performed, Normal Values, Risks, Considerations, Other Names

17-OH progesterone



It is a blood test that measures the amount of 17-OH progesterone, a hormone produced by the adrenal glands and gonads.

How the test is performed

Blood is drawn from a vein, usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. The puncture site is cleaned with a disinfectant (antiseptic). The health care provider wraps an elastic band around the upper arm to apply pressure to the area and make the vein swell with blood.

The doctor then gently inserts a needle into the vein and blood collected in a vial or tube attached to the needle. The elastic band is removed to restore circulation.

Once it has collected the blood sample, the needle is removed and covered the puncture site to stop any bleeding.

In infants or young children, you can use a tool called a lancet to puncture the skin and make it bleed. The blood collects into a small glass tube called a pipette, a slide or test strip. Finally, you can place a bandage over the area if there is any bleeding.

The blood sample is sent to the laboratory for analysis.

Prepare for the Test

Your doctor may ask you to stop taking any drugs that may cause false test results. These drugs include corticosteroids and birth control pills.

The doctor may also recommend the examination at a specific time of day, which can be sensitive to circadian rhythms, ie the natural ups and downs that the body undergoes a period of 24 hours.

What you feel during the examination

When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain, while others feel only a prick or stinging sensation. Subsequently, there may be some throbbing.

Why the test is performed

This test is used to identify congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) in infants. Often performed on infants who are born with external genitalia that do not have the typical appearance of a boy or a girl.

This test is also used to identify persons with nonclassical adrenal hyperplasia, a condition that occurs when the body does not produce enough of a substance that helps the adrenal glands to produce cortisol.

Your doctor may recommend this test if you are a woman who have excessive hair growth in places where they grow to adult men or other signs of virilization.

Normal Values

Normal and abnormal values differ for babies born with low weight. In general, normal results are as follows

* Umbilical cord: 1,000-3,000 ng / dL
*> 24 hours: less than 100 ng / dL
* Adults: less than 200 ng / dL

Note: ng / dL = nanograms per deciliter.

Note: Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.
Significance of abnormal results

High levels of 17-OH progesterone may be due to:

* Adrenal tumors
* Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH)

In infants with CAH, the levels of 17 - OH progesterone ranging from 3,000 to 40,000 ng / dL. In adults, a level above 200 ng / dL may be due to nonclassical adrenal hyperplasia.

Risks

Veins and arteries vary in size from one patient to another and from one side of the body to another reason why blood from some people may be more difficult than from others.

Other risks may include:

* Excessive bleeding
* Fainting or dizziness
* Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
* Infection (a slight risk that is broken skin)

Considerations

The doctor may suggest an ACTH test whether the level of 17-OH progesterone is between 200 and 800 ng / dL.

Alternative Names
17-hydroxyprogesterone, 17-OH Progesterone

17-hydroxycorticosteroids: How the test is performed, Prepare for the Test, Why the test is performed, Significance of abnormal results, Risks, Names

17-hydroxycorticosteroids



17-hydroxycorticosteroids (17-OHCS) is an inactive product that forms when the liver and other body tissues break down the steroid hormone cortisol. This article discusses the laboratory test to measure the amount of 17-OHCS in urine.

How the test is performed

A sample of urine for 24 hours.
On day 1, urinate into the toilet upon arising in the morning.
Collect all urine in a special container for the next 24 hours.
On day 2, urinate into the container in the morning on rising.
Cap the container and store in the refrigerator or a cool place during the collection period.
Label the container with the name, date, time of completion, and return as instructed.

For an infant, thoroughly wash the area around the urethra, opening a urine collection bag (a plastic bag with an adhesive on one end) and place it on the baby. In children, place the entire penis in the bag and attach the adhesive to the skin in females, place the bag over the labia. Diaper as usual over the secured bag.

They may have to repeat the procedure, as lively infants can displace the bag, causing the urine to be absorbed by the diaper. Check the infant is frequently and the bag after the infant has urinated into it. The urine is drained from the bag into the container provided by your doctor.

Deliver the container in the laboratory or doctor as soon as possible.

Prepare for the Test

If necessary, your doctor will instruct you to discontinue drugs that may interfere with the test.
Ampicillin and glucocorticoids can increase 17-OHCS measurements.
Estrogens pills (pills) and dexamethasone can decrease 17-OHCS measurements.

If you are collecting the urine sample of a baby, you may need a couple of extra collection bags.
What you feel during the examination

The test involves only normal urination and there is no discomfort.

Why the test is performed

This test can help determine if your body is producing too much hormone cortisol.
Normal Values
Men: 4 to 14 milligrams per 24 hours
Women: 2 to 12 milligrams per 24 hours

The normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. The person should talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.

Significance of abnormal results

The 17-OHCS levels above normal may indicate:
Cushing syndrome caused by adrenal or pituitary tumor
Ectopic ACTH-producing tumor
Severe physical or emotional stress

Levels above normal can also be filed with:
Hydrocortisone therapy
Obesity
Pregnancy
Severe Hypertension

The 17-OHCS levels below normal may indicate:
Adrenal hemorrhage
Adrenal insufficiency
Adrenal infarction
Hereditary enzyme deficiency
Hypopituitarism
Surgical removal of adrenal gland

Risks

There are no risks.

Alternative Names

17-OHCS, 17-OH corticosteroids

17-ketosteroids: How the test is performed, Prepare for the Test, What you feel during the examination, Why the test is performed, Normal Values

17-ketosteroids

These are substances that form when the body breaks down male steroid sex hormones called androgens and other hormones released by the adrenal cortex and testes in men.

This article discusses the laboratory test used to measure the amount of 17-ketosteroids in a urine sample.

How the test is performed

A sample of urine for 24 hours.
The first day, urinate into the toilet when you get up in the morning.
Afterwards, collect all urine in a special container for the next 24 hours.
The second day, urinate into the container when you get up in the morning.
Cap the container and store in the refrigerator or a cool place during the collection period.
Mark the container with your name, date, time of completion, and return as instructed.

For an infant, thoroughly wash the area around the urethra. Open a urine collection bag (a plastic bag with an adhesive on one end) and place it on the baby. In children, place the entire penis in the bag and attach the adhesive to the skin. In girls, place the bag over the labia. Diaper as usual over the secured bag.

They may have to repeat the procedure, and lively infants can displace the bag, causing the urine to be absorbed by the diaper. Check the infant frequently and change the bag after the infant has urinated into it. Drain the urine from the bag in a container provided by your doctor.

Deliver it to the laboratory or doctor as soon as possible after completion.



Prepare for the Test

If necessary, your doctor will instruct you to discontinue drugs that may interfere with the test.

Drugs that can increase 17-ketosteroids measurements include:
Antibiotics
Chloramphenicol
Chlorpromazine
Dexamethasone
Meprobamate
Phenothiazines
Quinidine
Secobarbital
Spironolactone

Drugs that can decrease 17-ketosteroids measurements include:
Birth control pills
Estrogens
Probenecid
Promazine
Reserpine
Salicylates (prolonged use)
Thiazide diuretics

What you feel during the examination

The test involves only normal urination and there is no discomfort.

Why the test is performed
Your doctor may order this test if you have signs of a disorder associated with abnormal levels of androgens.

Normal Values

Normal values are as follows:
Male: 8 to 20 milligrams (mg) per 24 hours
Women: 6 to 12 mg per 24 hours

The normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.

Significance of abnormal results

Increased levels of 17-ketosteroids may indicate:
Adrenal Tumor
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (very rare)
Cushing Syndrome
Ovarian Cancer
Testicular cancer
Ovarian dysfunction (polycystic ovarian disease)

The decreased levels of 17-ketosteroids may indicate:
Addison's Disease
Castration
Hypopituitarism
Myxedema
Nephrosis

Risks
There are no risks.

Special Considerations

This test is not performed as often as it was done in the past, because instead newer tests are used.

Excess weight (obesity) can also interfere with test results.

Ketones in urine: Definition, examination for Children or adults, Infants, Preparation and reviews, Normal Values, abnormal results, risks

Ketones in urine


Alternative Names
Ketones in urine, urinary ketones, and acid acetoacetic acid betahidroxibutiric

Definition

Is a test that measures the presence or absence of ketones in the urine.

Manner in which the examination is performed

Children or adults:

To take the urine sample, the person takes a clean ( "in the middle of urination). For this, men and children should clean the head of the penis, while women and girls should wash the area between the lips of the vagina with soapy water and rinse well. When the process of eliminating urine, which should make a small amount of it falls to the toilet (and cleans the urethra of contaminants). Later, in a clean container is recommended that approximately one to two ounces (30 to 60 ml) of urine and remove it. Finally, we must give this container the doctor or his assistant.

Infants:

It is necessary to thoroughly wash the area around the urethra opening and a urine collection bag (a plastic bag with adhesive tape on one end) and then place the bag baby. The children, they can enter the entire penis into the bag and the adhesive sticks to the skin. For girls, the bag being placed over the labia majora. You can put the diaper on the baby as usual, covering and securing the bag. It is recommended that the baby frequently and remove the bag after he has urinated into it. Active babies can move the bag, so that may be needed more than an attempt to obtain a sample. Finally, you should pour the urine into a container and then hand it to the doctor.

Urinary ketones are usually measured as a "rapid test" using a dipstick impregnated with chemicals that react with ketone bodies. The test strip is dipped into the urine sample and a color change is an indicator of the presence of ketones.

Preparation for the review

It may recommend a special diet and medications should stay that may affect the test (see Special Considerations).

If the sample was taken to a baby, it may require additional bags.

What you feel during the test

The review involves only normal urination, and produces no discomfort.

Reasons for which the examination is performed Back to top

Ketones (acid betahidroxibutírico, acetoacético acid and acetone) are the end products of metabolism, rapid or excessive fatty acids. As with glucose, ketones are present in the urine when blood levels exceed a certain threshold.

The release of fatty acids from adipose tissue (body fat) is stimulated by many hormones such as glucagon, epinephrine and growth hormone, whose levels are increased by starvation (whether in connection with alcohol or not ), uncontrolled diabetes and many other ailments.

Normal Values

A negative test is normal. The results from the presence of acetone in the urine usually appear as small, moderate or large with their corresponding values:

Small: <20> 80 mg / dL

Significance of abnormal results

A positive test may indicate:

* Metabolic abnormalities, including uncontrolled diabetes or glycogen storage disease.
* Abnormal nutritional conditions, including starvation, fasting, anorexia, diets high in protein and low in carbohydrates.
* Vomiting frequently over a long period of time, including hyperemesis gravidarum (a severe form of nausea during pregnancy).
* Disorders of increased metabolism, including hyperthyroidism, fever, or severe acute illness, burns, pregnancy, lactation (feeding a baby) or post-surgical condition.

What are the risks

No risk.

Special considerations

Some special diets can alter the results of this test. For example, a diet that is composed of low amounts of carbohydrates and high amounts of protein and fat can affect ketone levels.

Medicines that can cause false positive results include glucocorticoids.