Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Vol 47, 272-274, Copyright © 1978 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Reliability of the 30-minute ACTH test in assessing hypothalamic- pituitary-adrenal function

J Lindholm, H Kehlet, M Blichert-Toft, B Dinesen and J Riishede

An insulin hypoglycemia test and a 30-min ACTH test were performed in 90 patients with proved or suspected hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal hypofunction and in 10 normal subjects. The peak plasma cortisol concentration during hypoglycemia and the cortisol concentration at 30 min after injection of 250 micrograms corticotropin 1-24 were compared. A very close correlation (r = 0.92) was found between the the two concentrations, with no major discrepancy in any case. It is concluded that the short ACTH test accurately reflects the integrated hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal function, as assessed by the insulin hypoglycemia test.

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