Ovine Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone Stimulation Test in Normal Children

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Abstract
We administered ovine corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) as a bolus iv injection (1 μg/kg) to 21 normal boys and girls, aged 6–15 yr. CRH stimulated relea se of immunoreactive ACTH and cortisol in all children. The peak plasma ACTH and cortisol levels after CRH were 15.7 ± 9.4 (SD) pg/ml and 14.3 ± 3.6 μg/dl, respectively, in the girls, and 20.7 ± 9.7 pg/ml and 16.6 ± 3.3 μg/dl, respectively, in the boys. Plasma ACTH and cortisol responsiveness to CRH did hot differ between girls or boys, or between children and adults. Coftisolbinding globulin concentrations in plasma did hot change with age. We conclude that CRH provides a safe means of stimulating the pituitary-adrenal axis in children.