Determination of Method-specific Normal Cortisol and Adrenal Hormone Responses to the Short Synacthen Test

Launched by CARDIFF UNIVERSITY · Feb 25, 2009

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

Synacthen® is a synthetic analogue of ACTH which has been used since the 1960s to assess adrenal sufficiency. It is now well established as a first line test to investigate diseases of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis and to assess adrenal function in patients on long-term corticosteroid therapy. Briefly, cortisol is measured before and after injection of 250 micrograms of Synacthen®. In a normal individual serum cortisol will rise to concentrations greater than an arbitrary value (typically 550 nmol/l) 30 minutes after administration of Synacthen®.

In 2004 the All Wales Clinical Bio...

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Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Volunteers will be in self-proclaimed good health
• • Volunteers will be free of illness on the day of testing
• • Volunteers will not be taking drug therapy.
• • Patients will be free of intercurrent illness on the day of testing
• • Patients will have a confirmed diagnosis of hypoadrenalism or hypopituitarism
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Is pregnant or lactating. Females of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test before enrollment onto the study. Non-child bearing potential is defined as post-menopausal for at least 1 year, surgical sterilisation or hysterectomy at least three months before the start of the study,
• • Is using corticosteroids,
• • has any significant intercurrent disease,
• • has a history of thyroid or other autoimmune disease,
• • has a previous history of hypersensitivity to Synacthen®,
• • has a previous history of asthma
• • has a history of allergic disorder
• • has any mental condition rendering the patient unable to understand the nature or possible consequences of the study, and/or evidence of an uncooperative attitude.