Assessment of Pituitary ACTH Secretory Capacity with Metopirone: 1. Interpretation1

Abstract

Confusion exists as to the proper interpretation of the Metopirone test of pituitary ACTH secretory capacity. Criteria were examined using oral and intravenous tests in a variety of patient groups. The tests were interpreted by measuring changes in the urinary excretion of Porter-Silber chromogens and 11-deoxycorticosteroids (11-DOCS) and plasma levels of 11-DOCS. The changes in urinary 11-DOCS excretion were found to differentiate most clearly the normal and abnormal responses. The normal response as denned by this study is an increase in 11-DOCS excretion of at least 7 mg/day above the control level.