[Status of the pituitary-adrenal system in patients with non- specific ulcerative colitis]

The blood content of basal cortisol was studied in 54 patients with a total form of non-specific ulcerous colitis and in 23 of them that of ACTH. A low cortisol level was revealed in 71.4 per cent of the patients, while the level of ACTH remained unchanged. Treatment with prednisolone (1-2 mg/kg) for 6-9 weeks did not deteriorate the functional state of the hypophyseal-adrenal system. A single administration of the total daily dose of prednisolone in the morning protected the adrenal cortex from exhaustion and in some of the patients even caused increased in and normalization of the cortisol level. Rectal administration of hydrocortisone (125 mg), which was included in therapeutic scheme ensured normalization of the blood plasma cortisol level and did not cause decrease in the ACTH level.