title: Hydrocortisone production in lepromatous patients with insulin load.
abstract: Hydrocortisone production was studied in 36 patients with lepromatous leprosy before and after insulin load as a stress factor using a competitive radioassay. Twenty-three patients showed a so-called paradoxical type of hydrocortisone production suggestive of markedly exhausted hydrocortisone-producing function of the adrenal cortex. Reserve hydrocortisone production was depressed in most of the patients with active disease; while cured patients showed a partial restoration in reserve hydrocortisone production. Leprosy relapses seem to be among the factors affecting the reserve hydrocortisone-producing function of adrenals. The question of reassessment of the principles of steroid therapy in lepromatous patients with relapses is raised.
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007918:Leprosy / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone