Chongqing Adrenogenic Autonomic Cortisol Secretion Cohort Study (CONACSS)

September 22, 2026 updated by: Qifu Li, Chongqing Medical University

To investige the etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of adrenogenic autonomic cortisol secretion in Chinese adults.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Detailed Description

With the development of imaging detection technology and its wide application in clinic, the detection rate of adrenal incidentaloma (AI) has been greatly improved. In our previous study, 18.9% of AI were accompanied by autonomic cortisol secretion (ACS) in Chinese. The vast majority of ACS is mild (MACS). Due to the lack of typical Cushing manifestations and the low rate of progression to overt Cushing, MACS has received insufficient attention in the past. However, recent studies have found that MACS have a higher incidence of diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular events, metabolic bone disease and mortality risk than those with non-functional adenomas. With appropriate treatment, the complications of MACS patients can be effectively improved. However, personalized treatment of MACS is a clinical difficulty. It is hard to determine whether the cortisol secretion of patients is caused by AI or whether patients will benifit from operation. There are some retrospective studies have provided some evidence, while prospective studies are lacking. The purpose of this study is to prospectively include patients with autonomic cortisol secretion, evaluate function and diagnosis, develop personalized treatment strategy, and follow up the prognosis. The research results will provide new evidence for standardized diagnosis and treatment of adrenogenic autonomic cortisol secretion in the future.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

200

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • China
    • Chongqing Municipality
      • Chongqing, Chongqing Municipality, China, 400016
        • Recruiting
        • Department of Endocrinology, Sichuan-Chongqing Joint Key Laboratory of Metabolic Vascular Diseases, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Major Metabolic Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

People with adrenal incidentaloma and serum cortisol > 50nmol/L after 1mg dexamethasone inhibition test, without other situation mentioned in exclusion criteria.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • CT examination revealed adrenal nodules (maximum diameter ≥10mm);
  • Serum cortisol > 50nmol/L after 1mg dexamethasone inhibition test (1mg-DST).

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with primary aldosteronism (PA), pheochromocytoma, adrenal metastatic carcinoma, congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), ganglionic neuroma/paraganglioma, schwannoma, adrenal hematoma and those with no definite diagnosis were evaluated by clinical and endocrine function.
  • Patients with serious underlying diseases (such as liver and kidney failure, acute severe infection, etc.) that may affect the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis); Pregnancy.
  • Patients with a history of alcoholism, fatigue, trauma, infection, depression, glucocorticoid use, and other drugs affecting the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.
  • Patients who are not willing to participate in and complete this study refuse to sign the written informed consent for this study.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: CASE_CONTROL
  • Time Perspectives: PROSPECTIVE

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Study group

Accidental adrenal tumor with 1mg-DST cortisol >50nmol/L
Control group

Accidental adrenal tumor with 1mg-DST cortisol ≤50nmol/L

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
SUVmax value of PET-CT
Time Frame: 10 years

To explore the value of 68[Ga]-Pentixafor PET-CT in the diagnosis of MACS
10 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Etiology and pathogenesis of adrenogenic autonomic cortisol secretion
Time Frame: 10 years

To study the etiology and pathogenesis of adrenogenic autonomic cortisol secretion
10 years

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Chongqing Medical University

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Qifu Li, PhD, First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

February 17, 2023

Primary Completion (Estimated)

February 15, 2033

Study Completion (Estimated)

February 15, 2033

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 16, 2023

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 16, 2023

First Posted (Actual)

February 24, 2023

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

September 24, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 22, 2026

Last Verified

November 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • AC-China 2023

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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