Low 11-deoxycortisol: what it means
A 11-deoxycortisol result below the normal range is considered low. Here is what a reduced 11-deoxycortisol can point to, and when it is worth discussing with a doctor.
Reference range: varies by lab; the immediate precursor of cortisol — used to diagnose 11-beta-hydroxylase deficiency and in the metyrapone test of pituitary reserve
Understand your full resultWhat a low 11-deoxycortisol can mean
- A blunted metyrapone test response — points to inadequate pituitary or adrenal reserve (e.g. hypopituitarism, adrenal insufficiency).
- Normal — outside the specific tests it is used for, a low or unremarkable level is expected.
When to discuss with a doctor
11-deoxycortisol is a specialist test used in defined circumstances rather than routinely. It confirms a specific inherited enzyme deficiency (11-beta-hydroxylase) when congenital adrenal hyperplasia is suspected, and it is the measured hormone in the metyrapone test of the pituitary–adrenal axis. In both cases the result only makes sense in context — alongside cortisol, ACTH and the other steroids, and often the response to a stimulation or blocking agent — and is interpreted by an endocrinologist. A high level in the right setting points to the enzyme block; the response in a metyrapone test gauges reserve. Mediora.AI shows 11-deoxycortisol alongside cortisol, ACTH and related precursors so the pattern is read together; the interpretation belongs with your specialist.
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Upload your test - freeMediora.AI is informational - interpretation, not a diagnosis. A single out-of-range value is common and often benign; always discuss decisions with your doctor.