Short ACTH test in assessing hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical function. Issue 6004 (31st January 1976)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kehlet, H; Blichert-Toft, M; Lindholm, J; Rasmussen, P
• Is Part Of: BMJ. Volume 1:Issue 6004(1976)
• Page Start: 249
• Page End: 251
• Publication Date: 1976-01-31
• Subjects: Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine; Periodicals; 610
• DOI: 10.1136/bmj.1.6004.249
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-1447

Abstract

Abstract : The adrenocortical response to the simple 30-minute ACTH stimulation test was compared with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) response to insulin-induced hypoglycaemia in 25 patients with various degrees of hypothalamic-pituitary malfunction. The correlations between the increase in plasma cortisol during insulin hypoglycaemia and that during ACTH stimulation (r = 0-66) and between peak plasma cortisol levels during the two tests (r = 0-90) were highly significant. Peak plasma cortisol levels in individual patients were similar on both tests, no patient showing any major discrepancy between the two test results. Thus the simple 30-minute ACTH stimulation test seems to be reliable in detecting imparied HPA function.