The effect of ACTH therapy on serum dehydroepiandrosterone, androstenedione, testosterone and 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone in infants.
Serum concentrations of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), androstenedione, testosterone, 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone and cortisol were measured in 10 infants (age 5-22 months) before, during and after 6-weeks of ACTH therapy for infantile spasms. During therapy, their mean DHEA concentrations increased 2.3-fold, androstenedione 12.3-fold, testosterone 2.7-fold, 5 alpha-dihydrotesterone 2.5-fold and cortisol 2.9-fold compared to pre-therapy values. Serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S) concentrations were also increased during ACTH therapy above the normal prepubertal range. Three days after the cessation of ACTH treatment, all androgens had returned to the pre-therapy level. We conclude: At least in pharmacologic doses ACTH alone stimulates adrenal androgen secretion in infants, excluding the necessity of a separate adrenal androgen stimulating hormone.
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood*; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000097:blood*; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000187:drug effects; D013036:Spasms, Infantile / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone