Corticotrophin Secretion in Patients with Head Injuries Examined by the Metopirone Test

Abstract

Corticotrophin secretion was examined by the 2-day metopirone test in patients with head injury of various degrees. Between the response to metopirone and the degree of severity of brain injury computed with a unidimensional scale there was no significant correlation. On the other hand, the comatose or semicomatose period was significantly longer in patients with limited response to metopirone than in other head injury patients. It is suggested that head injury may affect the central nervous system participating in the regulation of ACTH release, no matter whether the general severity of the injury is small or large.