F. Kelestimur et al., A COMPARISON BETWEEN SHORT SYNACTHEN TEST AND DEPOT SYNACTHEN TEST INTHE EVALUATION OF CORTISOL RESERVE OF ADRENAL-GLAND IN NORMAL SUBJECTS, Journal of endocrinological investigation, 18(11), 1995, pp. 823-826
Synacthen test has been widely used as a screening test for evaluation
of adrenal cortisol reserve. We investigated whether depot Synacthen
test can be used in place of short Synacthen test in the evaluation of
cortisol reserve of the adrenal gland. The study included 20 healthy
volunteers of both sexes. We examined plasma cortisol response 30, 60,
90, and 120 min after administration of plain Synacthen, 250 mu g, iv
(Group 1), and depot Synacthen, 1000 mu g, im (Group 2), Peak cortiso
l values were statistically similar between the groups. The increment
in cortisol levels following Synacthen was also similar between the gr
oups, A plasma cortisol value above 550 or 600 nmol/L was achieved in
both groups during the test of 90 or 120 minutes duration, respectivel
y, We think that depot Synacthen test, im 1000 mu g, may be used in pl
ace of plain Synacthen, iv 250 mu g, for evaluation of adrenal cortiso
l reserve.