Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Vol 58, 758-760, Copyright © 1984 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Plasma adrenocorticotropin and cortisol responses to ovine corticotropin-releasing factor in patients with adrenocortical insufficiency due to hypothalamic and pituitary disorders

T Tsukada, Y Nakai, T Koh, S Tsujii, M Inada, M Nishikawa, H Shinoda, I Kawai, N Takezawa and H Imura

Plasma ACTH and cortisol responses to intravenous injection of 100 micrograms synthetic ovine corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) were studied in 4 patients with hypothalamic hypopituitarism, 2 patients with Sheehan's syndrome, 2 patients with isolated ACTH deficiency and 10 normal subjects. All 4 patients with hypothalamic hypopituitarism had exaggerated plasma ACTH responses to CRF compared to normal subjects and gradual but definite increases in plasma cortisol from low basal levels. Of 2 patients with Sheehan's syndrome, one had slight ACTH and cortisol increases after CRF injection, whereas the other had no increase in either. In 2 patients with isolated ACTH deficiency, plasma ACTH and cortisol remained undetectable (ACTH less than 10 pg/ml, cortisol less than 0.6 microgram/dl) after CRF injection. These results suggest that the CRF test is a useful tool in evaluating patients with secondary adrenocortical deficiency.