Effect of various ACTH preparations and of metyrapone on the secretion of growth hormone in normal subjects and in hypopituitary patients

Cortisol stimulation by recombinant interferon-alpha 2

Serum cortisol concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay in cancer patients undergoing experimental therapy with recombinant interferon-alpha 2. Cortisol concentration rose steadily after interferon administration and was significantly different from that on control day at 8 h following intramuscular injection of interferon-alpha 2. Cortisol elevation was increased as weekly doses of interferon were increased (0-120 X 10(6) units). Recent clinical trials of interferons for treatment of neurological and malignant diseases provide a compelling need to understand the actions and side effects of exogenously administered interferons.

A new familial syndrome of 46,XY gonadal dysgenesis with anomalies of ectodermal and mesodermal structures

Two 46,XY phenotypic female siblings, aged 1 1/2 and 8 1/2 years, have peculiar facies, cardiac, renal, musculoskeletal, and ectodermal anomalies, short stature, streak gonads, and mild developmental delay. Previous reported cases of 46,XY gonadal dysgenesis have not had major associated malformations. These children present a new constellation of anomalies unlike those seen in other types of gonadal dysgenesis and represent a new familial syndrome of 46,XY gonadal dysgenesis.

Evaluation of 3 hour metyrapone test in children and adolescents

An evaluation of a new 3 h metyrapone test is presented. The test consists of one oral dose of metyrapone given at 08.00-09.00 hours, and determination of plasma deoxycortisol from a single capillary blood sample taken 3 h later. The test has been assessed in children and adolescents in conjunction with a 5 day metyrapone test, insulin test, vasopressin test, and ACTH test in forty-five reference subjects, in thirty-six hypopituitary subjects with normal or deficient ACTH secretion, in three subjects with primary adrenocortical disease and in ten subjects prior to and after pharmacological prednisone medication. During the first hour after metyrapone the plasma cortisol level decreased to almost the low level maintained for the rest of the 3 h period. The plasma deoxycortisol concentration was basally less than or equal to 35 nmol/l and increased continuously during the 3 h period to the mean level of 299 (95% confidence interval 133-669) nmol/l in the reference subjects. The new test proved to be as accurate as the insulin test in detecting ACTH deficiency. No significant rise was observed in the plasma somatotrophin (GH) level in those children who had a normal GH response to insulin hypoglycaemia.