Physiological Response of Cortisol to Cardiac Catheterization

Physiological Response of Cortisol to Cardiac Catheterization

Cortisol is essential for survival. The importance of cortisol response is most apparent in patients with partial or complete deficiency of glucocorticoids during stressful events such as illness or surgery.

It is known that cortisol and other stress hormones increase during acute myocardial infarction as well (9-11). Cardiac catheterization is an essential tool for the management of acute coronary syndrome, and for the evaluation of the burden of coronary artery disease in cardiac patients.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients undergoing elective cardiac catheterization, who are willing and able to give consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• • Patients with .primary or secondary adrenal insufficiency.

  • Patients taking steroids in the doses equivalent of at least 5 mg of prednisone daily for more than 3 weeks in the previous year.
  • Patients undergoing cardiac catheterization in the setting of acute coronary syndrome, eg. STEMI, NSTEMI and unstable angina.
  • Patients with low albumin level (<3.5 g/dL)