The Effect of Long-Term Glucocorticoid Therapy on Pituitary–Adrenal Responses to Exogenous Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone

Abstract

Suppression of pituitary--adrenal function is a well-known consequence of glucocorticoid therapy, manifested principally by decreased corticotropin secretion. To determine the degree of suppression of pituitary—adrenal function in patients treated with different doses of synthetic glucocorticoid medication for different periods, we measured the pituitary—adrenal response to the administration of exogenous human corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH).