Cortisol is a hormone (a glucocorticoid) that affects the metabolism of carbohydrates (especially glucose), proteins and fats. Pituitary dependent hypercortisolism (Cushing‘s disease) is caused by a pituitary tumour (non-cancerous) that triggers excessive levels of the stress hormone cortisol. When functioning normally, the pituitary, a pea-sized gland at the base of the brain, produces adrenocorticotropic hormone, or ACTH, which stimulates the adrenal glands near the kidneys to produce cortisol. A small percentage of dogs with Cushing’s disease have a tumour of one of the adrenal glands which may or may not be cancerous. This form of Cushing’s is called adrenal dependent and results from a direct increase in cortisol production by the adrenal gland tumour.

The overproduction of cortisol causes symptoms such as hair loss, pot-bellied appearance, increased appetite and increased drinking and urination called polydipsia and polyuria. Addison’s disease (underproduction of cortisol) occurs less commonly than the Cushing’s disease in dogs.

Applications in diagnostics

Eurolyser’s Cortisol VET test kit was specifically designed for veterinarians, who want to monitor cortisol levels in their patients.

Your advantages

• In-house diagnosis (no more time delay due to sent out samples)
• Almost no waiting period (results in less than 8 minutes)
• Precise results
• Easy test procedure

Method

Homogeneous immunoturbidimetric test.

Measurement range: 0.8 – 24 µg/dl

For more information, please visit the Cortisol test kit page