Corticotropin Production Response to Methopyrapone

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Abstract
An adrenal blocking agent, methopyrapone ( SU 4885), is a recent addition to the diagnostic armamentarium of the physician interested in pituitary and adrenal function. Although the production of adrenal steroids can be determined both in the resting state and after stimulation, no comparable methods have been generally available for evaluation of pituitary adrenocorticotropin. If the urinary excretion of steroids were to be measured before and during a stressful situation, one can assume that any increase was mediated by endogenously produced corticotropin. An alternative approach would be to lower the level of circulating hydrocortisone and thus use a physiological stimulus to increase corticotropin release. This latter method has been investigated by Liddle et al.1in 1958 using methopyrapone, an inhibitor of 11-β-hydroxylation of adrenal steroids. Several investigators2-4have subsequently reported on its use in adults, and recently a few reports have been published regarding its use in children.5-8

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