Adreno-cortical reserve in pulmonary tuberculosis

Serum cortisol in response to ACTH was assessed in 28 patients with moderately severe to far advanced pulmonary tuberculosis. Ten healthy individuals served as controls. Whereas the basal values were comparable in the two groups the mean delta peak, mean and area under the response curve were significantly lower in the tubercular patients (p < 0.05 to 0.001). Six patients had negligible cortisol response to ACTH stimulation while five others exhibited an inadequate response (rise between 200-300 nmol/L0. None of the subjects had any clinical evidence of adrenocortical insufficiency. The data thus revealed a functional impairment of adrenal cortical reserve in patients of pulmonary tuberculosis.