Pituitary and adrenal functions during late asthmatic responses

The purpose of the present study was to examine the role of low cortisol levels which were observed during late asthmatic responses (LAR). Selective functions of the adrenals and pituitary glands were studied in three groups of asthmatics who showed LAR, immediate asthmatic responses (IAR), and DAR (dual asthmatic responses). Serial plasma ACTH levels in each group showed no apparent abnormalities when compared with diurnal levels. The cortisol response to ACTH changed within the normal range in all three groups with minor differences. We suggest that low cortisol levels that appear during LAR are not principally due to any dysfunction in the pituitary adrenal system.