1961 Volume 36 Issue 12 Pages 1986-1995,1941
For investigating the adreno-cortical function of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, the plasma cortisol and the urinary 17-OHCS were measured by Sweat and Takeda's method and by (chiefly) Honda's method respectively in a number of patients divided into three groups according to the classification of the American National Tuberculosis Association. The measurement was repeated after intramuscular injection of ACTH-Z (20mg) and after dropwise intravenous infusion of ACTH (20mg).
The average plasma cortisol values were 9.2 ± 1.9μg, 8.0 ± 0.3μg, 6.3 ±0.9μg and 4.6 ± 0.6μg per deciliter respectively in normal subjects, mild cases, moderately advanced cases and far advanced cases. The corresponding figures for the urinary 17-OHCS were 4.2 ± 0.3mg, 3.1 ± 0.5mg, 2.8 ± 0.4.mg and 1.6 ± 0.2mg per day respectively. Thus the values, for either substance in tuberculous subjects lie in the lower border of the normal range or below it.
The rise of plasma cortisol value following the intramuscular injection of ACTH-Z was seen to be slower in the two advanced categories than in the mild cases and the normal subjects, and the increase of excretion of 11-OHCS resulting from the same treatment was seen to be sharp in the normal subjects, less marked in mild and moderately advanced cases, very slight in far advanced ones, and the increase appearing later in more advanced cases.
After the intravenous infusion of ACTH, the rise of plasma cortisol value was somewhat smaller in mild and moderate cases than in normal subjects and very slight in far advanced cases.
Thus, the more advanced the disease is, the smaller are the plasma cortisol and the urinary 17 OHCS values, and due to the administration of ACTH or ACTH-Z the smaller are the changes of these values.
