Diagnosis of Adrenal Insufficiency in Liver Cirrhosis Patients

Patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) often exhibit fatigue, poor oral intake, and abdominal discomfort, which are the symptoms that are also shown in subjects with adrenal insufficiency (AI). Controversy exists upon over-diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency in patients with LC, because decreased albumin and/or cortisol binding protein lower total cortisol levels while free cortisol increases/or is preserved. The investigators assumed that measuring salivary cortisol or direct free cortisol using mass-spectrometry would provide a more accurate level of cortisol in LC patients. 50 patients with LC will be recruited and undergo a rapid ACTH stimulation test and their blood/ saliva will be collected and analyzed. The difference between serum free cortisol and total cortisol, as well as between salivary cortisol and total cortisol will be investigated to find the optimal way to diagnose AI in LC patients.