[Cortisol responses to rapid ACTH test in patients with multiple organ failure]

Cortisol concentrations are usually elevated in sepsis, during major surgery and in burns. Adrenocortical response to stress seems to be essential for survival. To investigate the endogenous adrenocortical response to multiple organ failure, rapid ACTH stimulation tests were used in 15 patients. Patients were divided to nonsurvival group and survival group. Patients in both groups appeared to have increased adrenocortical activity, because basal cortisol concentrations were above normal (non-survival group: 33.8 +/- 13.7 micrograms.dl-1, survival group: 19.1 +/- 3.8). There are no significant differences between the two groups. We could not find absolutely adrenal insufficient patient. Plasma cortisol concentrations increased significantly in patients of both groups following ACTH stimulation. We found poor response to ACTH in two patients in non-survival group with very high basal cortisol concentrations. But there is no significant difference of cortisol response between the two groups. We could not determine whether the high mortality is associated with poor response to ACTH or not.