Salivary Steroid Analysis for Cortisol Excess and Insufficiency
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Salivary Steroid Analysis Post Administration of Dexamethasone and Utility in the Investigation of Adrenal Insufficiency
IRAS ID
316357
Contact name
Lynne Webster
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
This study will comprise of 3 different work packages:
Part A will assess whether steroid analysis of a saliva sample can be used in place of the status quo (venous blood), in the investigation of Cushing's disease/syndrome. The steroid hormone cortisol is released in response to stress, having too much is termed Cushing's syndrome, too little is termed Adrenal insufficiency.
Part A will also encompass development of a laboratory method to measure dexamethasone and its metabolite in saliva. Spare serum and saliva samples will be used for development and to produce analyte comparisons.
Part B will assess whether tests undertaken on a saliva sample collected immediately after waking up can be used to investigate Adrenal insufficiency.
Part C will be a fact finding study to assess the impact of patients taking dexamethasone - a steroid hormone approximately 30 times stronger than cortisol. Blood and saliva samples will be analysed for a range of different steroids and comparisons carried out.REC name
South Central - Oxford B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/SC/0355
Date of REC Opinion
28 Nov 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion