title: Early rise in blood pressure following administration of adrenocorticotropic hormone-[1-24] in humans.
abstract: 1. An elevation in blood pressure has been consistently observed 24 h after adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) administration and is caused by increased ACTH-stimulated cortisol secretion, in association with increased cardiac output. The aim of the present study was to investigate the previously undefined time of onset of this increase in blood pressure in normal humans. 2. Ten normal healthy volunteers received 250 mg ACTH-[1-24], in 500 mL normal saline, infused at a constant rate over 8 h. Six subjects also received a placebo infusion (normal saline only). Blood pressure, heart rate and cortisol levels were determined hourly. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH-[1-24] plus native ACTH) was measured at 0, 1, 7 and 8 h. 3. Infusion of ACTH-[1-24] produced maximal secretion rates of cortisol, resulting in a mean peak plasma level of 985 +/- 46 nmol/L at 8 h. In response, blood pressure and heart rate rose significantly by 2 h and remained generally elevated for the duration of the infusion. 4. The early onset of haemodynamic responses is consistent with classical steroid receptor-mediated genomic mechanisms, but could be due non-genomic mechanisms. 5. The cardiovascular consequences of therapeutic use of ACTH are well recognized. This results of the present study suggest that even diagnostic administration of ACTH, delivered over a few hours, may raise blood pressure.
authors.affiliation: Neuroendocrine Research Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Queensland, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland 4120, Australia. med.gslopes@mailbox.uq.edu.au
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Nye
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Grice
authors.forename: G I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Hockings
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Strakosch
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Walters
authors.forename: G V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Crosbie
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Torpy
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Whitworth
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D003366:Cosyntropin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003366:Cosyntropin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone