PROPOFOL ANESTHESIA DOES NOT INHIBIT STIMULATION OF CORTISOL SYNTHESIS

Recent data suggest a negative effect of propofol anesthesia on cortis ol secretion. The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of propofol anesthesia on the steroidogenic potential of the adrenal gla nds. The response of cortisol secretion to stimulation with an adrenoc orticotropic hormone (ACTH) analog during intravenous anesthesia with propofol has not been reported before. The response of the secretion o f cortisol 11-deoxycortisol, and 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone to tetra cosactide stimulation was compared in patients anesthetized with propo fol-nitrous oxide (n = 10) or thiopental-isoflurane-nitrous oxide (n = 10) and normal volunteers (n = 10). The response to tetracosaetide wa s similar in all three groups. An adequate increase in cortisol plasma concentration (more than 7.25 mu g/dL) was obtained in all subjects e xcept one volunteer. The increase in the plasma concentration of the c ortisol precursors was also similar. We were unable to detect any infl uence of propofol anesthesia on the synthesis of cortisol in response to tetracosaetide stimulation.