Secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone induced by allergen inhalation inpatients with atopic asthma

Allergen inhalation in atopic patients results in cytokines production or r elease of preformed cytokines, some of which are known to induce adrenocort icotropic hormone (ACTH) secretion in experimental conditions. We examined whether allergen inhalation can induce ACTH secretion in vivo. A significan t elevation of ACTH levels was observed in 2 and 24 hr after allergen inhal ation challenge. However, methacholine challenge with the same degree of ai rflow limitation did not induce ACTH elevation, indicating that this may no t be due to bronchoconstriction per se. Our results indicate that allergen inhalation can trigger ACTH secretion in patients with atopic asthma.