Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis suppression - The value of salivary cortisol and cortisone in assessing hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal recovery.

Although marginally inferior to early morning serum cortisol, early morning salivary cortisone may be used as a first-line test for assessing hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal function. We plan to incorporate salivary cortisone into a home-based patient pathway to identify patients with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal recovery, continuing hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal suppression and those who require a short synacthen test.