title: Disregulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in the mentally retarded.
abstract: Previous reports of cognitive and social improvement in the mentally retarded after administration of MSH/ACTH fragments suggested disregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The current study examined the integrity of this system with the Dexamethasone Suppression Test (DST). The DST is a biological index of HPA integrity and recently has been used as a diagnostic aid for endogenous depression. Thirty-five mentally retarded patients were administered 1 mg of dexamethasone just after a sample of blood was taken. Blood samples were analyzed for cortisol by RIA at 11:00 p.m. (basal), 8:00 a.m., 4:00 p.m., and 10:00 p.m. Between 40% and 48% (depending on sampling) of the patients failed to suppress cortisol (greater than 4 micrograms/dl), after the DST challenge. The results suggested that a significant proportion of mentally retarded patients have a DST index reflecting a disordered HPA axis and complements earlier studies of cognitive enhancement observed after treatment with MSH/ACTH fragments. The possibility that the stress of hospitalization was related to a disordered HPA was suggested. The possible co-existence of depression in the mentally retarded invites further study.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications; D003907:Dexamethasone; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010672:Phenytoin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D010672:Phenytoin; D003907:Dexamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D010634:Phenobarbital