No inhibition of corticotrophin (ACTH)-hypersecretion in adrenal insufficiency by somatostatin

Abstract
Somatostatin (250 .mu.g as a bolus i.v. and 250 .mu.g as a 1 h infusion) was administered to 6 patients with primary adrenal insufficiency (Addison''s disease). The fall in plasma ACTH during the infusion period ranged between 0-30% with a mean reduction of 11.2 .+-. 11.6%. These findings suggest that with the method employed, somatostatin is not an inhibitor of ACTH secretion in a condition in which glucocorticoids are lacking.