Skip to main content
NCBI home page
The Journal of Clinical Investigation logoLink to The Journal of Clinical Investigation
. 1988 Jul;82(1):13–16. doi: 10.1172/JCI113561

Human corticotropin-releasing factor plus lysine vasopressin test during glucocorticoid therapy.

K Hashimoto 1, S Suemaru 1, T Takao 1, M Sugawara 1, T Hattori 1, J Kageyama 1, K Takahashi 1, Z Ota 1
PMCID: PMC303469  PMID: 2839544

Abstract

1.0 micrograms/kg body wt human corticotropin-releasing factor (hCRF) and 0.005 IU/kg body wt lysine vasopressin (LVP) were administered in a bolus dose to patients receiving daily or alternate-day glucocorticoid therapy. In normal subjects with this hCRF-LVP test, the plasma ACTH increment was significantly greater (approximately 2.5-fold) 15 min after injection than under the CRF test. In patients receiving daily glucocorticoid therapy (greater than 15 mg prednisolone or an equivalent daily dose), the plasma ACTH and cortisol responses to hCRF-LVP were suppressed 2 wk to 1 mo after the beginning of glucocorticoid administration but partially improved at 2-10 mo, and was markedly suppressed several years later. On the other hand, in patients receiving alternate-day glucocorticoid therapy, the plasma ACTH response was normal at 2 wk, normal or higher at 1-3 mo, and normal after 4 mo. A normal plasma cortisol response was observed throughout the test period in patients receiving alternate-day therapy after pulse therapy, whereas plasma cortisol response was gradually improved in patients receiving alternate-day therapy after several months of daily therapy.

Full text

PDF
13

Images in this article

15Image
on p.15
15Image
on p.15
16Image
on p.16
16Image
on p.16

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Chrousos G. P., Schulte H. M., Oldfield E. H., Gold P. W., Cutler G. B., Jr, Loriaux D. L. The corticotropin-releasing factor stimulation test. An aid in the evaluation of patients with Cushing's syndrome. N Engl J Med. 1984 Mar 8;310(10):622–626. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198403083101004. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Dallman M. F., Yates F. E. Dynamic asymmetries in the corticosteroid feedback path and distribution-metabolism-binding elements of the adrenocortical system. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1969 Apr 21;156(2):696–721. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1969.tb14008.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Fehm H. L., Voigt K. H., Kummer G., Lang R., Pfeiffer E. F. Differential and integral corticosteroid feedback effects on ACTH secretion in hypoadrenocorticism. J Clin Invest. 1979 Feb;63(2):247–253. doi: 10.1172/JCI109296. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Gillies G. E., Linton E. A., Lowry P. J. Corticotropin releasing activity of the new CRF is potentiated several times by vasopressin. Nature. 1982 Sep 23;299(5881):355–357. doi: 10.1038/299355a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Hashimoto K., Mori M., Asaoka K., Ofuji M. [Correlation between the use of steroid hormones and the response in rapid ACTH tests]. Horumon To Rinsho. 1973 Nov;21(11):1151–1155. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Hashimoto K., Murakami K., Hattore T., Ota Z. [Corticotropin releasing factor (CRF)-stimulating test in patients with disorders of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis]. Nihon Naika Gakkai Zasshi. 1984 Sep;73(9):1317–1324. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Hashimoto K., Murakami K., Hattori T., Ota Z. Synergistic interaction of corticotropin releasing factor and arginine vasopressin on adrenocorticotropin and cortisol secretion in Macaca fuscata. Acta Med Okayama. 1984 Jun;38(3):261–267. doi: 10.18926/AMO/30349. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Jones M. T., Tiptaft E. M., Brush F. R., Fergusson D. A., Neame R. L. Evidence for dual corticosteroid-receptor mechanisms in the feedback control of adrenocorticotrophin secretion. J Endocrinol. 1974 Feb;60(2):223–233. doi: 10.1677/joe.0.0600223. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Keller-Wood M. E., Dallman M. F. Corticosteroid inhibition of ACTH secretion. Endocr Rev. 1984 Winter;5(1):1–24. doi: 10.1210/edrv-5-1-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Murakami K., Hashimoto K., Ota Z. Interaction of synthetic ovine corticotropin releasing factor and arginine vasopressin on in vitro ACTH release by the anterior pituitary of rats. Neuroendocrinology. 1984 Jul;39(1):49–53. doi: 10.1159/000123954. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Rivier C., Vale W. Interaction of corticotropin-releasing factor and arginine vasopressin on adrenocorticotropin secretion in vivo. Endocrinology. 1983 Sep;113(3):939–942. doi: 10.1210/endo-113-3-939. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Rivier J., Spiess J., Vale W. Characterization of rat hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing factor. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1983 Aug;80(15):4851–4855. doi: 10.1073/pnas.80.15.4851. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Schulte H. M., Chrousos G. P., Avgerinos P., Oldfield E. H., Gold P. W., Cutler G. B., Jr, Loriaux D. L. The corticotropin-releasing hormone stimulation test: a possible aid in the evaluation of patients with adrenal insufficiency. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1984 Jun;58(6):1064–1067. doi: 10.1210/jcem-58-6-1064. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Schürmeyer T. H., Tsokos G. C., Avgerinos P. C., Balow J. E., D'Agata R., Loriaux D. L., Chrousos G. P. Pituitary-adrenal responsiveness to corticotropin-releasing hormone in patients receiving chronic, alternate day glucocorticoid therapy. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1985 Jul;61(1):22–27. doi: 10.1210/jcem-61-1-22. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Shibahara S., Morimoto Y., Furutani Y., Notake M., Takahashi H., Shimizu S., Horikawa S., Numa S. Isolation and sequence analysis of the human corticotropin-releasing factor precursor gene. EMBO J. 1983;2(5):775–779. doi: 10.1002/j.1460-2075.1983.tb01499.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Vale W., Spiess J., Rivier C., Rivier J. Characterization of a 41-residue ovine hypothalamic peptide that stimulates secretion of corticotropin and beta-endorphin. Science. 1981 Sep 18;213(4514):1394–1397. doi: 10.1126/science.6267699. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Clinical Investigation are provided here courtesy of American Society for Clinical Investigation

RESOURCES