title: Plasma cortisol responses after intramuscular corticotropin 1-24 in healthy men.
abstract: Intravenous infusion of corticotropin 1-24 (ACTH 1-24) followed by a plasma cortisol measurement after 60 minutes of less than 20 microg/dL indicates clinically important glucocorticoid deficiency. In this study, we evaluated the morning plasma cortisol response to an intramuscular (IM) injection of ACTH 1-24 (250 microg) in 64 healthy men. Plasma cortisol increased significantly 30 and 60 minutes after IM ACTH 1-24 (P < .0001). In most subjects, a maximal response was obtained at 60 minutes. The cortisol response correlated positively with the morning basal cortisol concentration. The lowest cortisol peak and the lowest increment observed after IM ACTH 1-24 were, respectively, 12.6 and 3.5 microg/dL after 30 minutes and 16.3 and 5.3 microg/dL after 60 minutes. We conclude that a plasma cortisol level less than 16.0 microg/dL 60 minutes after IM ACTH 1-24 can be used as an index of glucocorticoid deficiency.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Endocrinology Section, Developmental Endocrinology Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-1862, USA.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Longui
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vottero
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Chrousos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003366:Cosyntropin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D003366:Cosyntropin; D006854:Hydrocortisone