Adrenal glands: how to check their work for women, the hormone which blood and urine tests should hand over the names as to examine the kidney in males, function

For many important functions in the body responsible adrenal glands, can check their work using instrumental and laboratory diagnostics. Comprehensive survey reveals not only a violation of the cortex hormone of the body, but the disease provoked failures. Timely detection of existing pathologies allows you to choose the best treatment.

Which hormones affect the state of the adrenal glands

Adrenal gland - a paired organ, which is located on top of each kidney. The name they got for localization. For the normal functioning of the body is extremely important adrenal hormones analyzes allow identify the blood levels of these substances, to assess their activity, identify malfunctions of glands.

Regulation of adrenal function is the hypothalamus and pituitary. These organs produce a number of hormones, the conversion process involving the adrenal glands. These include corticotropin WG and ACTH.

Under the influence of signals from the central nervous system, gland produces mineralkortikoidy, corticosteroids and sex hormones. The glomerular cortex conducted mineralocorticoid production. The beam produced cortex steroids, including cortisone and cortisol. Reduced levels of these hormones is called gipokortitsizm and increased - hypercortisolism. The net area of ​​the cortex there is a development of sex hormones, such as:

• androgens;
• progesterone;
• estrogens.

Inside is the adrenal medulla, which is involved in the production of norepinephrine and epinephrine. To evaluate the function of the paired organ conducted a study of substances such as catecholamines, DHEA and aldosterone. Changes in the content of these compounds allows you to assess the condition of the glands, as well as in a number of cases to determine the cause of the problem.

DHEA

To check the adrenal glands in women requires analysis of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). This hormone is important for women, its excess or deficiency can lead to the following violations of women's health:

• failures in the menstrual cycle;
• violation of hair growth on the body and face in women;
• absence of menstruation;
• violation of puberty;
• frigidity;
• infertility.

Insufficient production of DHEA dangerous for men. In boys, the lack of this substance can cause disorders of puberty.

Norms of the content of this substance in representatives of different sexes are not equal. In children of 1-9 years, both genders substances rate is 5-85 g / dl. For teenagers from 11 to 15 years are considered normal indicators 20-293 mg / dL. In women 18 to 49 years, the amount of this hormone may be 30-335 mg / dl. After menopause DHEA considered normal values ​​30-200 ng / ml. Men consider normal values ​​135-440 mg / dL.

Regardless of gender patient requires preparation for blood donation: at least 3 hours before the delivery of the analysis should not be smoking at the same time should give up eating.

Increasing DHEA levels may indicate prostate tissue growth, tumor process and a number of pathological processes. Lowering the content of this substance in the blood indicates a violation of the pituitary gland.

aldosterone

Aldosterone performs a number of functions, including regulates the ratio of sex hormones and the withdrawal of the liquid. Amplification products of the adrenal hormone leads to hypertension, sodium delay output and reduced potassium content. Elevated levels of aldosterone may indicate the development of disorders such as:

• renal failure;
• cirrhosis of the liver;
• narrowing of the renal artery;
• hormone producing tumor.

Increased levels of aldosterone observed in the use of drugs estrogenosoderzhaschih.

Low levels of this substance may indicate alcohol poisoning, acquired or congenital deficiency functions cortical cancer, infectious diseases seriously proceeding.

To obtain accurate results requires a fairly long preparation. It is desirable to avoid the use of drugs that lower blood pressure. The period of preparation for the delivery of the analysis should be deleted psycho-emotional stress and physical activity. If a patient has symptoms of an infectious disease tests for adrenal gland should be postponed.

catecholamines

Analysis of blood catecholamine may be assigned for suspected if the patient has some mental disorders, tumors, medullary cancer or malignant hypertension.

Often, control functions of the adrenal glands in the course of therapy administered urine.

To clarify the diagnosis and assessment of patients with hypertensive crisis often assigned a study to determine the concentration of catecholamines.

Indications for research

Analysis of adrenal hormones is appointed in many disease states. In congenital pathologies gland associated with impaired production of steroid hormones in children are observed disorders of sexual development, characterized by a number of symptoms. The appearance of such signs is an indication for testing. In addition, to examine these glands and hormones necessary when the following symptoms:

• low or high blood pressure;
• increased level of potassium;
• tachycardia;
• nervous irritability;
• muscle weakness;
• fatigue;
• darkening of the mucous membranes;
• sleep disorders;
• dehydration;
• loss of appetite;
• thirst;
• frequent urination;
• frequent bouts of nausea;
• fainting;
• dizzy spells;
• hyperpigmentation of the skin.

Pass the tests required while reducing the view of seizures. As will be referred to the pathology depends on the results obtained in the diagnosis.

What inspections need

When the question arises, how to check the adrenal glands, it is necessary to see a specialist. It requires a series of laboratory and instrumental studies. What tests need to take depends on the nature of symptoms.

self diagnosis

Self-diagnosis can not accurately determine the nature of disorders of the adrenal glands work. At the same time, some deviation in the state, which may result from dysfunction of the glands, you will notice your own: you need to regularly check blood pressure and record the performance. This will help detect changes.

At home, you can perform a test for cortisol. To do this for a week every 3 hours is necessary to perform body temperature measurement and record performance. In a healthy person the temperature remains constant, and if hormonal disturbance is slightly changing. So you do not know the degree of fluctuation of cortisol indicators, but it will become the basis for the doctor's visit and passing the required tests.

To which the doctor ask

To check the adrenal glands in a woman or a man, need advice of a number of experts, including .:

• endocrinologist;
• urologist;
• gynecologist;
• oncologist;
• cardiologist;
• therapist.

Tests for adrenal hormones must conduct workers specialized laboratories.

clinical diagnosis

If any symptoms the patient should consult a physician. Specialist collects and records the history of the presenting symptoms in the map. Redirect the patient to consult an endocrinologist. The specialist conducts a thorough history and physical examination, appoints the analysis of hormones of the adrenal glands and can recommend consulting other narrowly focused specialists.

Blood analysis

Analysis of blood adrenal hormones is performed in vitro. The patient first explain how to prepare for the delivery. Blood test helps to determine the level of substances such as:

• cortisol;
• DHEA-SO4;
• aldosterone;
• adrenocorticotropin.

For the study performs a blood sample from a vein. You need to pass 20 ml, it is enough to clarify the state of hormonal levels.

Analysis of urine

Urinalysis adrenal hormones required to identify the parameters of adrenaline excretion of metabolites. urine is often studied to determine whether a patient's tumor of hormone - pheochromocytoma. Before collecting urine the patient needs for a few days special diet. Women should not collect urine during menstruation.

The biochemical analysis of saliva

To analyze the patient's saliva sampling is conducted several times a day. Then in vitro study is done material. This analysis helps to determine the cortisol level fluctuations.

diagnostics

To examine the adrenal complex, the doctor prescribes a number of studies. To identify abnormalities in the structure of the gland are performed:

• ultrasound;
• selective angiography;
• X-rays;
• PAT;
• CT;
• MR.

In some cases, it requires a biopsy of the adrenal glands. The samples obtained are sent to a laboratory for performing histology. This helps to identify tumor formation and determine their type.

What diseases can be detected

adrenal glands work affects many systems. those pathological conditions can be detected by carrying out a comprehensive survey, such as:

• adrenal insufficiency;
• androsteroma;
• corticosteroma;
• Cushing's syndrome;
• hyperplasia of the glands;
• aldosteronoma;
• kortikoestroma;
• pheochromocytoma;
• gipoaldosteronizm.

In addition, it can be detected by other pathological conditions that can affect the function of the adrenal glands.