Plasma Adrenocorticotrophic Hormone in Addison's Disease and its Modification by the Administration of Adrenal Steroids

Abstract

A method for the determination of adrenocorticotrophlc hormone (ACTH) in human plasma has been described and applied to the determination of ACTH in the peripheral blood of patients with Addison''s disease. Levels of ACTH in such patients have a mean value of 8.4 milliunits/100 ml of plasma. This value was significantly different from a group of control subjects in whom no detectable plasma ACTH was present. The effect.of intravenous administration of hydrocortisone, delta- 1-hydrocortisone, 9-a-fluorohydrocortisone, desoxycorticosterone, and progesterone, on blood levels of ACTH in the plasma of patients with Addison''s disease has been determined. The infusion of hydro-cortisone at a rate of 2.5 mg/hour for 4 to 8 hours would almost always cause a marked decrease in circulating ACTH. Delta-1-hydrocortisone and 9-a-fluorohydrocortisone also appeared to be potent inhibitors of ACTH secretion in the human. Desoxycorticosterone was somewhat less potent and progesterone had no effect in one patient.