title: [Value of the corticoliberine test in the etiologic diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome].
abstract: Several studies have demonstrated that the corticotropin-releasing factor test (CRF) is useful for the aetiological diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome: in Cushing's disease, as opposed to ectopic ACTH secretion syndrome, the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis can still be stimulated by CRF. In the present study, we compared the CRF test with the reinforced dexamethasone suppression test in 18 patients: 11 with Cushing's disease, 6 with ectopic ACTH secretion and 1 with adrenal gland adenoma. We obtained 2 false-negative results with the CRF test and 1 false-positive result with the dexamethasone suppression test. Our study, together with published data, suggests that the CRF test is useful in the exploration of Cushing's syndromes of uncertain origin. However, the results obtained with this test must be compared with those of other methods used to explore the HPA axis and which are still necessary.
authors.affiliation: Service Endocrinologie, Hôpital Haut Leveque, Pessac, Bordeaux.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tabarin
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: San-Galli
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guérin
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Corcuff
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Manciet
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lefort
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Latapie
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Roger
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003480:Cushing Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D006914:Hydroxysteroids / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D006914:Hydroxysteroids; D003907:Dexamethasone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone
vernacular_title: Intérêt du test à la corticolibérine dans le diagnostic étiologique du syndrome de Cushing.