A comparison between the 1-microg adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) test, the short ACTH (250 microg) test, and the insulin tolerance test in the assessment of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis immediately after pituitary surgery

What Was Tested

This clinical trial looks at ACTH (Corticotropin).

Their aim was to investigate the value of the 1-microg ACTH test in the assessment of the HPA axis early after pituitary surgery.

Why It Was Studied

The short ACTH stimulation test is an easy, reliable, and extensively used test in the assessment of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.

However, its use immediately after pituitary surgery is a matter of debate.

Who Took Part

According to the abstract, 3 patients were involved.

By PubMed's age tags, the people studied were adults, middle-aged adults and older adults, both men and women.

Nineteen patients subjected to pituitary tumor surgery were included in the study, and the ITT and the 1-microg and 250-microg ACTH tests were performed between the 4th and 11th days of surgery.

How the Study Was Run

The ITT was performed by using iv regular insulin, and serum glucose and cortisol levels were measured.

The serum cortisol level was measured by RIA using commercial kits.

What Was Measured

The short ACTH stimulation test is an easy, reliable, and extensively used test in the assessment of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.

The insulin tolerance test (ITT) is the gold standard in the evaluation of the HPA axis, but it is not always without side effects and may be unpleasant early after pituitary surgery.

Topics PubMed links to this paper include Adrenocorticotropic Hormone, Glucose Tolerance Test, Hydrocortisone, Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System, Pituitary Function Tests, Pituitary Gland and Pituitary-Adrenal System.

What This Means in Plain Language

This is a clinical trial of ACTH (Corticotropin) in 3 patients.

With fewer than 40 people, it is a small study, so it is better read as an early signal for further research than as a settled answer.

The publication is from 2000 (The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism), a journal based in United States.

More context: the ACTH (Corticotropin) compound page, all human trials.