Simple screening test for Cushing's syndrome

Abstract

concentrations attained 1 mg. of depot-tetracosactrin was approximately equivalent to 80 units of corticotrophin-gel. Mean plasma cortisol levels had returned to normal by 24 hours after the corticotrophin-gel, and by 48 hours after both doses of the depot tetracosactrin. To maintain a continuously elevated plasma cortisol corticotrophin-gel in this dose must be given twice daily and 1 mg. of the depot-tetracosactrin once daily; after 2 mg. alternate daily administration might be sufficient. All three preparations gave maximal adrenal cortical stimulation over the first four hours. The depot-tetracosactrin was simpler to give than the corticotrophin-gel. Local discomfort was more common after the synthetic preparation.