CLINICAL STUDIES UTILIZING A NEW METHOD FOR THE SERIAL DETERMINATION OF PLASMA CORTICOIDS

The clinical applications of a recently introduced method for determination of plasma corticoids were investigated with a view to its routine use in the evaluation of pituitary-adrenal problems. Simple protocols to assess the diurnal variation and the responses of the plasma corticoids to adrenocorticotropin, dexamethasone, and methopyrapone administration were adopted to study healthy subjects, chronically ill subjects free of endocrine disease, and subjects with previously diagnosed adrenal or pituitary disorders. The results in all cases were in accord with the clinical assessment of the subjects.