Suspected Cushing's disease would cause which analyte to increase?

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Multiple Choice

Suspected Cushing's disease would cause which analyte to increase?

Cortisol rises. Cushing's disease is caused by excess ACTH driving the adrenal cortex to overproduce cortisol, so the main analyte that increases is cortisol measured in the blood. Sodium can be elevated as a secondary effect due to cortisol’s mineralocorticoid-like activity, and magnesium is not a defining increase. The direct, defining change in this condition is higher cortisol levels.

Cortisol rises. Cushing's disease is caused by excess ACTH driving the adrenal cortex to overproduce cortisol, so the main analyte that increases is cortisol measured in the blood. Sodium can be elevated as a secondary effect due to cortisol’s mineralocorticoid-like activity, and magnesium is not a defining increase. The direct, defining change in this condition is higher cortisol levels.

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