Dose-response relationships for adrenocorticotrophin-induced hypertension in man

Adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH), given as long-acting Synacthen depot (Ciba-Geigy), at 1000 micrograms/day, in divided doses 12 hourly, is known to increase blood pressure in man. Fifty micrograms/day of short-acting Synacthen given intravenously produced a rise in blood pressure and may be a threshold dose. Twelve hourly intramuscular injections of short-acting Synacthen over the dose range 100-400 micrograms/day was not sufficient to raise blood pressure.