Reliability of the 30-minute ACTH test in assessing hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal function.
An insulin hypoglycemia test and a 30-min ACTH test were performed in 90 patients with proved or suspected hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal hypofunction and in 10 normal subjects. The peak plasma cortisol concentration during hypoglycemia and the cortisol concentration at 30 min after injection of 250 micrograms corticotropin 1-24 were compared. A very close correlation (r = 0.92) was found between the the two concentrations, with no major discrepancy in any case. It is concluded that the short ACTH test accurately reflects the integrated hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal function, as assessed by the insulin hypoglycemia test.
D000236:Adenoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000503:physiopathology; D007016:Hypophysectomy; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000502:physiology*; D007328:Insulin; D007700:Kinetics; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000502:physiology*
D007328:Insulin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone