[Functional diagnostics of the adrenal cortex following long term treatment with prednisolone]

Promounced cases of disturbances of the function of the adrenal cortex may more certainly be found out with the help of the enlarged sinacthen test than after a stimulation done only but once. In a long-term prednisolone therapy of 10 mg/a day we could observe signs of disturbances of the function of the adrenal cortex. A clear evidence in the estimation of the individual value is possible only in decreased plasmacortisol levels which are during the whole course of the experiment. When a prednisolone therapy is established for a longer time apart from the sequels at the adrenal cortex should be thought also of the great number of the side effects caused by the catabolic properties of the cortico-steroids.