Exaggerated response of adrenocorticotropic hormone to growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 test in Cushing's disease. Case report.
A 47-year-old woman presented with a pituitary microadenoma manifesting as typical Cushing's syndrome. The diagnosis was Cushing's disease based on the endocrinological findings. Plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels were greatly increased from 66 pg/ml to 2490 pg/ml (about 38-fold) in response to the administration of 100 microg human growth hormone-releasing peptide (GHRP)-2. GHRP receptor type 1a messenger ribonucleic acid was detected in the tumor. Therefore, GHRP-2 may stimulate ACTH via the GHRP receptor type 1a in pituitary ACTH-producing tumor. The GHRP-2 test, currently clinically available in Japan, may be a useful diagnostic tool for Cushing's disease.
Sakihara
Satoru
S
Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan.
Kageyama
Kazunori
K
Matsumoto
Atsufumi
A
Ikeda
Hidetoshi
H
Tsushima
Yuko
Y
Naraoka
Maki
M
Terui
Ken
K
Nigawara
Takeshi
T
Suda
Toshihiro
T
D000236:Adenoma / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D047748:Pituitary ACTH Hypersecretion / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide / Q000235:genetics; D018017:Receptors, Pituitary Hormone-Regulating Hormone / Q000235:genetics
D015415:Biomarkers; D009842:Oligopeptides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide; D018017:Receptors, Pituitary Hormone-Regulating Hormone; C039542:somatocrinin receptor; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; C091874:growth hormone-releasing peptide-2