Table 2

Plasma and tissue cortisol measurements

Patient number

Total plasma cortisol (μg/dl)

Free plasma cortisol (μg/dl)

Microdialysis cortisol burn tissue (μg/dl)

Microdialysis cortisol non-burn tissue (μg/dl)

Requiring vasopressors

1

10.7

3.4

0.4

0.3

No

2

3.0

0.3

0.5

0.1

No

3

12.0

2.4

0.8

1.0

No

4

2.2

0.1

0.5

0.5

Yes

5

11.0

1.4

1.2

0.7

Yes

6

1.3

1.1

No

7

7.2

1.3

1.2

1.6

No

8

11.1

1.9

0.6

0.8

Yes

9

4.5

Yes

10

13.2

3.1

1.3

0.8

Yes

Volunteer

Microdialysis cortisol (μg/dl)

1

0.3

2

0.2

3

0.1

Cohen et al. Critical Care 2009 13:R189   doi:10.1186/cc8184