Effect of hypercalcaemia on adrenocortical and growth hormone secretion

The authors investigated in 19 healthy women changes in the plasma levels of cortisol and growth hormone during acute hypercalcaemia induced by a load of 8.9 mg Ca2+/kg body weight, administered as intravenous infusion and the effect of hypercalcaemia on the adrenocortical and somatotrophic secretory reserve assessed by the test with insulin hypoglycaemia. Hypercalcaemia causes a rise of the basal cortisol plasma level starting at the 90th minute from the onset of the infusion when the calcium level reaches values of 2.99 mmol/l. The adrenocortical secretory reserve is, however, significantly reduced by hypercalcaemia. Hypercalcaemia does not affect growth levels nor the somatotrophic secretory reserve.