FEHLENDER ANSTIEG DER CORTICOSTEROIDE IM PLASMA WÄHREND DER INSULINHYPOGLYKÄMIE BEIM CUSHING-SYNDROM

Abstract

Four patients with Cushing''s syndrome associated with adrenal hyperplasia were submitted to insulin-induced hypoglycemia. It was shown that contrary to conditions in normal subjects the Cushing-patients failed to respond to hypoglycemia with an increase of corticosteroids in plasma. This effect was independent of the initial value of corticoid level. It is concluded that pituitary ACTH-release during hypoglycemia in patients with Cushing''s syndrome did not markedly increase. The findings are discussed under the aspects of primary hypothalamic pathogenesis of Cushing''s syndrome: ACTH-secretion and plasma level are constant throughout the day and widely independent from exogenous and endogenous influences including such a stressful stimulus as hypoglycemia.