Pituitary Stalk Thickening

MRI revealed enlargement of the pituitary stalk in two patients with different clinical presentations. A 60 y/o female had autoimmune hypothyroidism associated with blunted cortisol response to ACTH, while the other, a 30 y/o female had amenorrhea and polyuria with high plasma and low urinary osmolality.Fil: Arregger, Alejandro Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Cardoso, Estela M. del Luján. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Contreras, Liliana Noemí. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; Argentin

Benzidine staining: method to detect neutrophils in whole saliva of patients with renal disease

Benzidine staining allows for the quantification of peroxidise positive polymorphonuclear leukocytes in whole saliva from patients with renal disease. This is a practical tool for monitoring oral health in this high risk population.Fil: Cardoso, Estela M. del Luján. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Odontología; ArgentinaFil: Arregger, Alejandro Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Budd, D.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Elverdín, Juan Carlos. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Odontología; ArgentinaFil: Tumilasci, G.. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Odontología; ArgentinaFil: Contreras, Liliana Noemí. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Odontología; Argentin

Standardization of a simple method to study whole saliva: clinical use in different pathologies.

En este trabajo se describe la normatización de un método para determinar flujo salival en humanos utilizando saliva total obtenida del piso de la boca mediante un eyector dental descartable y una bomba de vacío (equipo dental). En este estudio se evaluaron 40 sujetos sanos de ambos sexos y 51 pacientes con diversas patologías (Síndrome de Sjögren, Disfunción Tiroidea, Diabetes Mellitus). Se demostró que el flujo salival basal era estable a partir de los primeros 5 minutos de colocado el eyector en la cavidad bucal. No se encontraron diferencias significativas en el flujo salival basal comparando los sexos, siendo independiente de la intensidad del vacío efectuado por la bomba. El flujo de saliva total estimulada fue determinado durante 3 minutos, luego de los primeros 5 minutos de colocado el eyector en la boca. El estímulo se efectuó adosando en la cara dorsal de la lengua discos de papel absorbente, embebidos en ácido cítrico al 2 %. El uso de este método en pacientes con Síndrome de Sjögren confirmó la reducción del flujo salival respecto a los sujetos sanos. Los pacientes hipotiroideos y con neuropatía diabética demostraron disminución del flujo salival.The present study describes a methodology to assess the salivary flow rate in humans. Whole saliva was obtained from the floor of the mouth with a plastic dental ejector and a vacuum pump. Forty healthy subjects of both sexes and 51 patients with different pathologies (Sjögren Syndrome, Thyroid Dysfunction, Diabetes Mellitus) were included in the study. It was demonstrated that basal salivary flow rate was stable five minutes after the insertion of the oral ejector. Salivary flow rate did not show significant differences between sexes and was independent of the negative pressure level of the vacuum pump. Stimulated salivary flow rate was quantified over a period of 3 minutes, starting 5 minutes after the introduction of the oral device. The stimulus was paper filter disks soaked in citric acid (2%) placed on the tongue dorsum. The use of this method confirmed the reduction of salivary flow rate in patients with Sjögren Syndrome. In addition, a significant reduction in salivary flow rate was observed in patients with primary thyroid insufficiency and peripheral neuropathy secondary to Diabetes Mellitus.Fil: Tumilasci, Omar Rene. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Odontología. Cátedra de Fisiología; ArgentinaFil: Cardoso, Estela M. del Luján. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Contreras, Liliana Noemí. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Belforte, Juan Emilio. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Odontología. Cátedra de Fisiología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay; ArgentinaFil: Arregger, Alejandro Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Ostuni, Mariano A.. Inserm; Franci

An accurate, non-invasive approach to diagnose Cushing’s syndrome in at-risk populations

Background: The prevalence of Cushing’s syndrome (CS) in at-risk populations in developing countries remains uncertain. Evening urinary cortisol (UFC22–23) and salivary cortisol after treatment with 1-mg DST (SAFdex) have seldom been used as diagnostic tools in these populations. Objectives: (1) To establish the prevalence of CS in adults with cortisol-related morbidities using UFC22–23 and SAFdex as markers along with all first-line diagnostic tests recommended for CS; and (2) to assess the performance of each test and define a non-invasive diagnostic approach for CS in at-risk outpatient subjects. Methods: A total of 128 outpatients were evaluated, including type 1 and 2 diabetic patients with poor metabolic control (DM1 and DM2), hypertensive subjects with central obesity (HBP) and premenopausal women with osteoporosis (OS). Controls included 100 healthy volunteers and 23 patients with CS. Total urinary cortisol (UFC), UFC22–23, late-night salivary cortisol (SAF23) and suppression of cortisol levels in saliva (SAFdex) and serum (Fdex) after treatment with 1-mg DST were assessed. Results: CS was diagnosed in one DM2 and one HBP patient; both women exhibited central obesity. Among CS patients, UFC showed more within-person variability than UFC22–23 or SAF23. UFC22–23 and SAF23 were positively and significantly correlated in all groups (r ⩾ 0.70; p ⩽ 0.0001). UFC22–23 > 44.0 ng/mg creatinine or SAF23 > 3.8 nM were 100% sensitive (S) and specific (E) for CS. Furthermore, SAFdex > 2.0 nM or Fdex > 50.0 nM were 100% S and 97.3% E for CS. Conclusion: CS was diagnosed in 1.5% of at-risk patients. The combination of UFC22–23 or SAF23 with SAFdex offers a non-invasive diagnostic tool to assess cortisol nadir and feed-back status in outpatients.Fil: Cardoso, Estela M.del Lujan. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Oficina de Coordinacion Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Medicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Odontología; ArgentinaFil: Arregger, Alejandro Luis. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Monardes, Gloria. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Odontología; ArgentinaFil: Contreras, Liliana Noemi. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Oficina de Coordinacion Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Medicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Odontología; Argentin

Assessment of Corticoadrenal Reserve Through Salivary Steroids

Recent reports have reinforced the usefulness of salivary cortisol (SAF) in the evaluation of cortisol dynamics and the diagnosis of Cushing syndrome. However few data are available on the usefulness of SAF and salivary aldosterone (SAL) in response to corticotrophin (ACTH) stimulus. The aim of the authors ‘ study was to standardize the response of SAF and SAL to the intramuscular injection of 250 mg of synthetic human ACTH in 21 healthy patients. Salivary samples were obtained in baseline conditions and during 30,60,90,120 minutes after ACTH administration. The results showed that all healthy  volunteers achieved SAF and SAL concentrations of at least 40.0 nmol/L and 100.0 pmol/L , respectively , after the stimulus. The clinical usefulness of this test was confirmed when patients with known adrenal dysfunction were studied. In three patients with primary adrenal insufficiency, blunted SAF and SAL responses were obtained. Six patients with secondary adrenal insufficiency demonstrated subnormal or blunted SAF and normal SAL responses after ACTH stimulation. Corticoadrenal reserve can be easily , noninvasively, and accurately investigated through the simultaneous measurement of salivary cortisol and aldosterone in response to corticotrophin. Salivary aldosterone was helpful in the differential diagnosis of adrenocortical hypofunction.Fil: Cardoso, Estela M. del Luján. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Persi, Gabriel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Arregger, Alejandro Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Contreras, Liliana Noemí. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; Argentin

Diagnostic value of salivary cortisol in Cushing's syndrome (CS)

Objective: The diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome (CS) remains a challenge in clinical endocrinology. The aim of this study was to determine the reproducibility and diagnostic value of late‐night salivary cortisol (SAF23) for CS and its utility along the follow‐up of treated patients. In addition, using the same radioimmunoassay reactives, the cut‐off values for saliva and serum cortisol, assessed synchronically after the overnight 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test (DST), were defined. Design: Twenty‐one patients with confirmed CS and 121 volunteers were studied. All the subjects collected 24‐h urine for cortisol (UFC). On the same day whole saliva was obtained from the subjects at 23 h for SAF23. The intraclass coefficient of correlation (ICC) of SAF23 was estimated in 47 subjects (21 CS and 26 C). At 8 h, after DST, simultaneous saliva and serum samples for cortisol (SAFdex and Fdex, respectively) were obtained in 51 subjects (17 CS and 34 C). After specific therapy, 18 patients with CS were followed with SAF23 measurements. SAF and F were expressed as nm. Results: The intraclass coefficient of correlation of SAF23 was 0·89 in CS and 0·83 in C. SAF23 > 3·8 nm showed a sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 97·5%, respectively, for diagnosing CS. SAF23 correlated positively with UFC (r = 0·685; P = 0·0001). After DST, SAFdex significantly correlated with Fdex (r = 0·61, P 2·0 nm and Fdex > 50·0 nm detected CS with 100% sensitivity and specificity. After successful surgical therapy, 13 patients with CS had SAF23 levels < 3·8 nm (1·4 ± 0·8 nm). Conclusions: SAF23 and SAFdex seem to be good screening tools based on their noninvasive nature, remarkable reproducibility and diagnostic performances.Fil: Cardoso, Estela M. del Luján. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Arregger, Alejandro Luis. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Tumilasci, Omar Rene. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Contreras, Liliana Noemí. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; Argentin

Diagnostic value of salivary cortisol in end stage renal disease

Objectives: Salivary cortisol has been proposed a surrogate marker for free serum cortisol measurements. The aim of this study was to ascertain the diagnostic value of basal and stimulated salivary cortisol for the detection of adrenal insufficiency (AI) in hypotensive end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. Basal salivary cortisol and basal total serum cortisol were studied in order to determine the accuracy of both biomarkers in predicting AI. Patients and methods: Twenty-nine ESRD patients with sustained hypotension were investigated for possible AI. Salivary cortisol was assessed at baseline and 30 min after 25 μg ACTH i.m. (LDTs). The dosage of salivary aldosterone was performed in salivary cortisol hypo-responders. Basal blood samples were drawn for steroids, renin and ACTH measurements. Results: A clear separation between patients with normal and impaired adrenal function was obtained through salivary cortisol levels at 30 min after ACTH. AI was detected in six cases (21%) through impaired salivary cortisol responses; stimulated salivary aldosterone helped to differentiate primary (n = 3) from secondary AI (n = 3). ROC curves showed that cutoff values for basal SAF ≤4.4 nM and serum cortisol ≤232.0 nM suggest AI (sensitivities: 93% and 69%; specificities: 86.4% and 91%, respectively). Conclusions: We conclude that ACTH stimulated SAF is an accurate biomarker for the diagnosis of AI in hypotensive ESRD patients. Neither basal salivary cortisol nor serum cortisol showed 100% sensitivities for the detection of AI.Fil: Arregger, Alejandro Luis. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Cardoso, Estela M. del Luján. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Tumilasci, Omar Rene. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Contreras, Liliana Noemí. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; Argentin

A new less-invasive and more informative low-dose ACTH test: salivary steroids in response to intramuscular corticotrophin

Objective: The intravenous low‐dose ACTH test has been proposed as a sensitive tool to assess adrenal function through circulating steroids. The aims of this study were to: (a) find the minimal intramuscular ACTH dose that induced serum and salivary cortisol and aldosterone responses equivalent to those obtained after a pharmacological dose of ACTH; and (b) define the minimum normal salivary cortisol and aldosterone responses in healthy subjects to that dose of ACTH. We also compared the performances of the standard‐ and low‐dose ACTH intramuscular tests to screen patients with known hypothalamo–pituitary–adrenal impairments. Design: Rapid ACTH tests were performed in individuals using various intramuscular doses (12·5, 25 and 250 µg) at 2‐week intervals. Subjects: Twenty‐one healthy volunteers and 19 patients with primary (nine cases) and secondary (10 cases) adrenal insufficiency. Measurement: Serum and salivary cortisol and aldosterone concentrations were measured at baseline and after ACTH. Serum cortisol ≥ 552·0 nmol/l and aldosterone ≥ 555·0 pmol/l concentrations at 30 min after 250 µg of ACTH were defined as normal responses. Results: In healthy volunteers cortisol and aldosterone responded to ACTH in a dose‐dependent manner. The time to peak in saliva for each steroid was delayed as the dose of ACTH increased. The minimum ACTH dose that produced equivalent steroid responses at 30 min to 250 µg of ACTH (standard‐dose test; SDT) was 25 µg (low‐dose test; LDT). Saliva collection 30 min after LDT and SDT showed cortisol and aldosterone concentrations of at least 20·0 nmol/l and 100·0 pmol/l, respectively. These values were defined as normal steroid responses. Blunted salivary steroid responses to LDT and SDT were found in all patients with primary adrenal insufficiency. Subnormal salivary cortisol levels in response to LDT and SDT were found in all patients with secondary adrenal insufficiency. In five patients full recovery of adrenal function was demonstrated by both tests after steroid withdrawal. In the follow‐up of four patients studied during the recovery period, subnormal SAF response after LDT and normal after SDT was demonstrated. Preservation of the adrenal glomerulosa was found in all the patients with secondary adrenal insufficiency through the normal rise in salivary aldosterone after both LDT and SDT. Conclusions: Adrenal function can be accurately investigated with simultaneous measurements of salivary cortisol and aldosterone in response to 25 µg of corticotrophin injected into the deltoid muscle. Our data suggest that this may become a useful and relatively noninvasive clinical tool to detect subclinical hypoadrenal states.Fil: Contreras, Liliana Noemí. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Arregger, Alejandro Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Persi, Gabriel. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Gonzalez, Soledad Natalia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Cardoso, Estela M. del Luján. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; Argentin

Spontaneous and cytokine induced natural killer cytotoxicity in patients with Cushing´s disease

Patients with endogenous hypercortisolism are prone to develop infectious diseases. In this study, we investigated the spontaneous and in vitro response to interleukin-2 (LAK) or interferon -a (IFN-a NK) natural  killer cytotoxicity in 12 ambulatory female patients with Cushing’s disease (CD) Twelve healthy age-matched women served as control subjects (C). Mean spontaneous NK activity in CD ( 1.82 ± 0.77 LU/106 PBL) was not different than C (2.38 ± 0.59 LU/106 PBL). Mean LAK activity in CD (4.27 ± 1.72 LU/106 PBL) was significantly lower than C (9.52 ± 1.19 LU/10 6 PBL; p<0.001). Mean IFN-a NK cytotoxicity response in CD (3.33 ± 1.57 LU/10 6 PBL) was significantly reduced compared with C (8.41 ± 1.24 LU/106 PBL, p< 0.001). Spontaneous and stimulated NK cytotoxicity did not show correlation with plasma corticotrophin, total urinary-free cortisol or late salivary cortisol. Although spontaneous NK cytotoxicity did not demonstrate differences from healthy women, this finding did not exclude an impairment of the NK response to immunomodulators like found in these high-risk patients.Fil: Cardoso, Estela M. del Luján. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Arregger, Alejandro Luis. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Ofner, Luis M.. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Estrada, Gabriela Margarita. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Goldberg, Victoria. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Contreras, Liliana Noemí. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; Argentin

Salivary testosterone: a reliable approach to the diagnosis of male hypogonadism

Summary Objetive The purpose of this study was to demonstrate that Sal-T is a reliable biomarker of androgen status in the diagnosis of male hypogonadism. Design In order to validate the salivary testosterone assay (Sal-T), its reproducibility , the agreement with serum free testosterone levels (Free-T) , the correlation with other circulating androgen markers ( bioavailable testosterone , total testosterone) and  cut off values were defined. Patients and Methods We studied 52 eugonadic (E) and 20 hypogonadic (Hy) men. Sal-T was assayed using an adapted radioimmunoassay for serum testosterone. Sal-T concentrations were compared in 9 cases before and after citric acid stimulation of salivary flow-rate.  Free-T and bioavailable testosterone (Bio-T) were calculated by Vermeulen equation  and SHBG were determined by binding assay. Results Sal-T did not depend on  salivary flow-rate and morning samples from 7.00 to 9.00 h were stable. Agreement between Sal-T and Free-T measurements was confirmed in all subjects .  Sal-T levels correlated positively with  all circulating androgens , showing the best correlation with Free-T in E (r=0.92) as well as in Hy (r=0.97).A cutoff value  for Sal-T  £ 0.195 nM  showed 100% of sensibility and specificity to rule out hypogonadism. Conclusions Our data showed  that Sal-T is a reliable marker of testosterone bioavailability. The results support the inclusion of this biomarker as a non invasive approach in the diagnosis of male androgen deficiency.Fil: Arregger, Alejandro Luis. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay; ArgentinaFil: Contreras, Liliana Noemí. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay; ArgentinaFil: Tumilasci, Omar Rene. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Aquilano, Daniel R. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Cardoso, Estela M. del Luján. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; Argentin