[Dynamics of secretion of hypothalamo-hypophyseal system hormones in Itsenko-Cushing disease as affected by...

The results are presented of the studies on corticotropin, cortisol, beta-lipotropin, beta-endorphine, somatotropin, somatostatin, prolactin and thyrotropin secretion in 46 patients with active Icenko-Cushing's disease at the nearest and late periods after the treatment with an antiserotonin drug--cyproheptadine (peritol) combined with an adrenocortical secretion inhibitor--khloditan. The hormone basal levels and secretion under the action of stress, induced by insulin hypoglycemia or thyroliberin injection, were determined in the patients under examination by radioimmunoassay. In patients with an acute stage of the disease the blood beta-lipotropin, beta-endorphine, corticotropin, cortisol, somatostatin and prolactin concentrations are elevated, whereas those of somatotropin and thyrotropin are lowered. The hypothalamic, hypophyseal and adrenocortical response to stress or thyroliberin injection is reduced. THe combined treatment with khloditan and high doses of cyproheptadine led to pronounced clinical and hormonal remission in 55% of the patients. The blood beta-lipotropin, beta-endorphine, corticotropin, cortisol, somatostatin and somatotropin concentrations returned to normal. The blood prolactin and thyrotropin levels, as well as the response to thyroliberin injection remained disordered.