title: Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis in central diabetes insipidus: ACTH and cortisol responsiveness to CRH administration.
abstract: A strong relationship has been found between arginine-vasopressin (AVP) and hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis in humans. The aim of the current study was to evaluate baseline and CRH-stimulated ACTH and F levels in patients with central diabetes insipidus (CDI), before and after replacement therapy with desamino-D-AVP (DDAVP). Twenty-five patients with CDI, and 25 sex- and age- and BMI-matched healthy subjects entered the study. A standard CRH test (measurement of plasma ACTH and serum F before and every 15 min for 2 h after the administration of 100 microg of human CRH) was performed in all subjects. In patients with CDI, CRH test were repeated after 1 week of DDAVP at standard doses. At study entry, ACTH and F levels were significantly higher in patients with CDI than in controls either at baseline (ACTH: 45.5+/-4.8 vs 18.5+/-3.3 ng/l, p<0.05; F: 375.1+/-55.7 vs 146.6+/-19.4 microg/l, p<0.05) or after CRH test considered as a peak (ACTH: 90.8+/-14.4 vs 42.5+/-7.4 ng/l, p<0.05; F: 501.6+/-65.7 vs 226.3+/- 25.6 microg/l, p<0.05) and AUC (ACTH: 3997.0+/-571.7 vs 2136.0+/-365.8 ng/l/120 min, p<0.05; F: 31,489.0+/-4299.4 vs 14,854.5+/-1541.5 microg/l/120 min, p<0.05). In patients with CDI, 1 week of replacement with DDAVP brought down ACTH (peak: 56.9+/-9.3 ng/l; AUC: 2390.7+/-480.7 ng/l/120 min) and F (peak: 310.3+/-39.5 microg/l; AUC: 17,555.5+/-2008.7 microg/l/120 min) responses to CRH to normal but did not significantly modify baseline hormone levels (ACTH: 29.6+/-3.6 ng/l; F: 239.0+/-32.3 microg/l). In conclusion, CDI is associated to increased baseline ACTH and F levels and increased responsiveness of ACTH and F to CRH administration. In addition, replacement treatment with DDAVP normalized CRH-induced but not baseline ACTH and F secretion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Clinical Endocrinology and Oncology, Federico II University, Naples, Italy. rpivone@tin.it
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pivonello
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Faggiano
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Filippella
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Di Somma
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: De Martino
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gaccione
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lombardi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Colao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D003894:Deamino Arginine Vasopressin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003919:Diabetes Insipidus / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014556:Urine
chemical_list: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D003894:Deamino Arginine Vasopressin; D006854:Hydrocortisone