The combined corticotropin-releasing hormone/lysine vasopressin test discloses a corticotroph phenotype

Plain-language guide to PMID 8045953 (1994): double-blind randomized controlled trial study of ACTH (Corticotropin) and CRH (Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone) in 10 subjects.

Key Facts

PMID: 8045953
Journal: The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism
Year: 1994
Study type: Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Bertagna X et al. (5 authors)
DOI: 10.1210/jcem.79.2.8045953

What This Study Did, in Plain Language

What Was Tested

Researchers studied ACTH (Corticotropin) and CRH (Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone) in this randomized controlled trial publication.

The combined administration of CRH and vasopressin to man now offers a powerful means to directly assess the pituitary corticotroph reserve.

Who Took Part

According to the abstract, 10 subjects were involved.

By PubMed's age tags, the people studied were adults, men only.

How the Study Was Run

In design terms this was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled and crossover study.

Random assignment meant chance, not the researchers, decided who got ACTH (Corticotropin) and who got the comparison, which limits bias.

Blinding on both sides kept the subjects and researchers unaware of who received ACTH (Corticotropin).

The comparison arm used a placebo, so changes seen with ACTH (Corticotropin) could be set against what happens without it.

In the crossover set-up each of the subjects took both ACTH (Corticotropin) and the comparison in turn, acting as their own control.

What Was Measured

The combined administration of CRH and vasopressin to man now offers a powerful means to directly assess the pituitary corticotroph reserve.

PubMed files the paper under topics including Adrenocorticotropic Hormone, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone, Hydrocortisone, Lypressin, Pituitary Gland and beta-Lipotropin.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study of ACTH (Corticotropin) and CRH (Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone) in 10 subjects.

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 1994 (The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism), a journal based in United States.

More context: the ACTH (Corticotropin) compound page and the CRH (Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone) compound page, all human trials.

Our Notes on the Compounds

ACTH (Corticotropin): The 39-amino-acid pituitary hormone that drives cortisol production; given as repository corticotropin (Acthar Gel).

CRH (Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone): The 41-amino-acid hypothalamic hormone that triggers ACTH release; corticorelin is used diagnostically.

Vasopressin: A 9-amino-acid hormone (antidiuretic hormone) that controls water balance and blood vessel tone; used in septic shock.

Source: PubMed record. This explanation is written by PeptideWhiz from the public record. For research and education only. Not medical advice; no dosing information is given.