title: Single-dose metyrapone test at 06.00 h: an accurate method for assessment of pituitary-adrenal reserve.
abstract: One dose of metyrapone (1.5g) administered at 06.00 h, with subsequent measurement of 11-deoxycortisol and 17-hydroxycorticosteroid (17-OHCS) levels in plasma at 12.00 and 14.00 h, allowed accurate assessment of the pituitary-adrenal reserve. Normal response was defined as achieving a serum 17-OHCS level of more than 10.0 micrograms/100 ml and a 11-deoxycortisol level of more than 6.0 micrograms/100 ml at either 12.00 or 14.00 h. These criteria are based on a group of 18 persons with normal pituitary-adrenal axis, and 86 additional cases responded in this normal range. In this group of 104 subjects, 11-deoxycortisol levels rose to 9.2 +/- 3.5 micrograms/100 ml at noon and 17-OHCS levels to 15.4 +/- 4.7 micrograms/100 ml at 14.00 h. Post-metyrapone 17-OHCS levels were significantly higher than normal cortisol levels at these times (P less than 0.001) and than those observed at 08.00 h on the day of the test, demonstrating stimulation of adrenal corticoid production in addition to blockade of cortisol production by metyrapone. Thirty-one patients found to suffer from secondary adrenal failure showed impaired response. All these patients had limited pituitary-adrenal reserve, either proven by other pituitary-adrenal tests or implicated by severe pituitary disease.
mesh_terms: D015065:17-Hydroxycorticosteroids / Q000097:blood*; D000284:Administration, Oral; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003350:Cortodoxone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008797:Metyrapone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010912:Pituitary-Adrenal Function Tests; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D015065:17-Hydroxycorticosteroids; D003350:Cortodoxone; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D008797:Metyrapone