[Neurotensin in Itsenko-Cushing disease]

The results are presented on studying the blood neurotensin concentration in 68 patients with Icenko-Cushing's disease and in 5 persons with adrenocortical tumors. Neurotensin fasting content was determined by radioimmunoassay after insulin, glucose, peritol and parlodel administration and following the treatment with chloditane-, chloditane-cyproheptadine complex, a combination of chloditane and a dopaminergic drug. It was found that the blood neurotensin concentration is enhanced in the active stage of Icenko-Cushing's disease. Marked changes were not observed in the blood neurotensin concentration of healthy subjects and patients with Icenko-Cushing's disease under stress, provoked by insulin hypoglycemia and after glucose injection. Different sensitivity to peritol and parlodel was seen in a half of patients with an increased blood neurotensin concentration. During clinical remission of Icenko-Cushing's disease under chloditane and combined chloditane-peritol treatment the blood neurotensin level returned to normal, remaining increased in patients treated with chloditane and a dopaminergic drug.