REVERSIBLY INCREASED LYMPHOCYTE-RESPONSE TO MITOGENS IN A YOUNG MAN WITH ISOLATED ADRENOCORTICOTROPIC HORMONE DEFICIENCY

A 21-year-old man with isolated adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) def iciency complained of loss of consciousness in association with hypogl ycemia, Both plasma ACTH and cortisol levels were low and failed to re spond to corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) stimulation, The patien t also showed abnormal findings in hematological examination, such as neutropenia and anemia with lymphocytosis, activity of coagulation fac tors, and electroencephalography (EEG), Furthermore, mitogen-induced l ymphocyte proliferation was increased, After successful replacement th erapy with hydrocortisone 15 mg/day, most of these abnormalities inclu ding the lymphocyte proliferation were fully restored.