Ovine corticotropin-releasing hormone stimulation test in normal children.
We administered ovine corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) as a bolus iv injection (1 microgram/kg) to 21 normal boys and girls, aged 6-15 yr. CRH stimulated release of immunoreactive ACTH and cortisol in all children. The peak plasma ACTH and cortisol levels after CRH were 15.7 +/- 9.4 (SD) pg/ml and 14.3 +/- 3.6 micrograms/dl, respectively, in the girls, and 20.7 +/- 9.7 pg/ml and 16.6 +/- 3.3 micrograms/dl, respectively, in the boys. Plasma ACTH and cortisol responsiveness to CRH did not differ between girls or boys, or between children and adults. Cortisol-binding globulin concentrations in plasma did not change with age. We conclude that CRH provides a safe means of stimulating the pituitary-adrenal axis in children.
D000293:Adolescent; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012756:Sheep
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone