[Changes in hypophyseal-adrenal secretion in bronchial asthma patients]

The basic ACTH and cortisol (hydrocortisone) secretion was followed up in 678 patients suffering from bronchial asthma--494 men and 184 women, duration of the disease from 6 months up to 27 years. In 140 patients the 24 hour secretion of both hormones was studied. In 1/3 of the asthmatic patients the cortisol secretion was lower than the normal one (20.94%) or was near the lower normal range (14.01%). In about half of the patients the morning (at 8 o'clock) ACTH secretion was increased (53.10%). The disturbance of the basic hypophysial-suprarenal secretion was found more often in the patients with infectious bronchial asthma (24.9%) and with the mixed form than with the atopic form of the disease (12.0%). It probably takes part in the pathogenesis of infectious bronchial asthma. The corticosteroid treatment plays a leading role in reducing the basic cortisol secretion in asthmatic patients. In 53.85% of the asthmatic patients a disturbed 24 hour rhythm of cortisol secretion was found--inverse (30.71%) or monotone (27.14%). The rhythm disturbance was found more often in the patients with basic hypocortisolemia.