The hormonal responses to human corticotropin-releasing factor (hCRF) were investigated
in 6 normal subjects, 13 patients with Cushing's disease (8 with diffuse bilateral
hyperplasia and 5 with nodular hyperplasia) and one patient with Cushing's syndrome
due to an adrenal adenoma. hCRF (100 µg i.v.) was a potent stimulant of ACTH and cortisol
in normal subjects. Patients with Cushing's disease due to diffuse hyperplasia showed
variable ACTH and cortisol responses to hCRF. In both normal subjects and in patients
hCRF consistently stimulated serum aldosterone levels. Patients with nodular hyperplasia
had extremely suppressed plasma ACTH levels and no responses of ACTH, cortisol and
aldosterone to hCRF like in the patient with adrenal adenoma. Our results suggest
that hCRF-stimulation test may be an useful tool for differentiating pituitary and
adrenal forms of Cushing's syndrome.
hCRF-test - ACTH - Cortisol - Aldosterone - Cushing's syndrome
