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Cortisol Clearance

Meaning

The rate at which the active stress hormone cortisol is metabolized and eliminated from the systemic circulation, primarily through enzymatic inactivation in the liver and subsequent excretion via the kidneys. This process is a key determinant of the body’s overall exposure to cortisol, reflecting the efficiency of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis regulation. Alterations in cortisol clearance, rather than just secretion, can significantly influence clinical presentation and tissue-level hormone action.