Plasma cortisol, urinary 17-hydroxycorticoids, and urinary vanilyl mandelic acid after acute myocardial infarction.

Serial estimations ofplasma cortisol were made on 24 patients with acute myocardial infarction. Raised levels were found in 23 patients. The maximal level was observed within 12 hours of infarction in 78 per cent and between I2 and 24 hours in 22 per cent ofpatients. A positive correlation was found between the maximal cortisol level and the maximal levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase and a-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase. There was no significant difference between the maximal level in iS5 patients with an uncomplicated course and 5 patients who developed primary ventricular fibrillation. The maximal level