Radioimmunoassay of 18-hydroxy-11-deoxycorticosterone in plasma.

A method is described for the radioimmunoassay of 18-OH-DOC using antibodies generated in rabbits against the carboxymethoxime derivative coupled to bovine serum albumin. The procedure uses 4 ml of plasma with intra and interassay variations of 8 and 9% respectively. Standard 18-OH-DOC added to plasma from an adrenalectomized patient gave a regression equation, Y=0.974X+/-2.210 and a correlation coefficient of 0.999. The only cross reacting steroid, 18-OH-B which may lead to falsely high levels is removed by a single thin layer chromatographic step. Blood levels in normal subjects agree closely with those calculated indirectly by metabolic clearance and secretion rate measurements. ACTH stimulation produced an 18-fold increase in plasma concentration while dexamethasone suppression decreased levels 3-fold. Four hours in the upright position resulted in a decreased plasma concentration while aldosterone increased. No significant response to dietary sodium restriction could be demonstrated.