Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysregulation among diabetic outpatients.
We compared insulin-requiring diabetic outpatients (n = 49) with normal controls (n = 42) for indices of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity. Diabetic patients showed significantly elevated 9 a.m. plasma levels of cortisol as well as significantly elevated plasma levels of cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) at both 4 p.m. before and 4 p.m. after dexamethasone. Also, there was a significant correlation between postdexamethasone plasma levels of ACTH and duration of diabetes. These results suggest that HPA-axis dysregulation is found among diabetic outpatients. The possible psychiatric implications are discussed.
Roy
M
M
National Eye Institute, Bethesda, MD.
Collier
B
B
Roy
A
A
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D000368:Aged; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology; D003907:Dexamethasone; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000503:physiopathology*
D003907:Dexamethasone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone