NORMAL ADRENOCORTICAL RESPONSE TO CORTICOTROPHIN

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Abstract
The urinary output of 17-ketosteroids (17-KS) and 17-ketogenic steroids (17-KGS) was studied in a group of male and female hospitalized patients before and after an intravenous infusion of 20 IU corticotropin over an 8 hr. period. In 15 males, the observed range of pretreatment daily excretion for 17-KS was 4.4-23.2 mg/24 hr. and 3.5-15.5 mg/24 hr, for 17-KGS; in 18 females, the corresponding values were 3.1-20.2 mg/24 hr. and 4.9-18.2 mg/24 hr,, respectively. There was no significant difference between the mean daily excretions of 17-KGS or ratios of 17-KGS/17-KS in males and females (P=0.05). With one exception, the dose of corticotropin at least doubled the output of 17-KGS, but the urinary output of 17-KS was not consistently increased in all individuals.