Parotid Fluid Steroid Responses to ACTH in Surgically Confirmed Cases of Cushing's Syndrome1

Abstract

The increase in 17-hydroxycorticosteroid (17-OH-CS) levels in parotid fluid after intramuscular injection of 40 U of ACTH was measured in 5 patients with Cushing''s syndrome, later verified surgically. One hr. after the injection the mean 17-OH- CS value had risen from 10.1 to 21.8 [mu]g/100 ml and after 2 hr to 24.7 [mu]g/100 ml. Previously published values in 206 apparently healthy subjects were 3.7, 7.5 and 8.4 [mu]g/100 ml at 0, 1 and 2 hr. At neither 1 nor 2 hr. after ACTH was there any overlap in parotid fluid 17-OH-CS levels between the healthy and diseased subjects.