This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints, Permissions and Rights Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by MILLER, M. Articles by MOSES, A. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by MILLER, M. Articles by MOSES, A. M.

Effect of Temperature and Dexamethasone on the Plasma 17-Hydroxycorticoid and Growth Hormone Responses to Pyrogen

Veterans Administration Hospital, State University of New York, Upstate Medical Center Syracuse, New York 13210
Department of Medicine, State University of New York, Upstate Medical Center Syracuse, New York 13210

Pyrogen was administered intravenously to 14 normal subjects under 3 test conditions: no premedication, premedication with dexamethasone and premedication with dexamethasone and aspirin. The subjects were also studied without pyrogen while receiving dexamethasone. Plasma 17-hydroxycorticoid (17-OHCS) and growth hormone (GH) responses were determined. The increases in 17-OHCS and GH were related to the maximum temperatures attained following pyrogen, and these increases correlated significantly with the maximum temperatures regardless of the pretreatment. The increases of plasma 17-OHCS and of GH correlated significantly with each other. The effect of dexamethasone on inhibiting plasma 17-OHCS and GH responses appeared to be due to its antipyretic action and not to a direct inhibition of hormonal release. In assessing hypothalamic-pituitary function, failure of plasma 17-OHCS or GH concentrations to rise in the absence of adequate febrile response cannot be considered abnormal.

Received December 4, 1967.

Accepted April 4, 1968.