[Evaluation of the hormonal status of patients with bronchial asthma by using various drug doses]

Drug loads were used to diagnose impairments of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system in 209 patients with bronchial asthma. A thyroid-releasing hormone test made in patients with moderate bronchial asthma who were taking no corticosteroids (CS) demonstrated a high level of thyroid-stimulating hormone at min 60 of the agent administration, which was indicative of decreased hypothalamic function. In 67.8% of patients, the vasopressin test was positive and suggested that the pituitary preserved its functional capacities. The decreased secretion of hydrocortisone and its active forms was observed in patients with severe bronchial asthma when CS was used in the daily dose adequate to 10-15 mg of prednisolone for 5 years. The 20-day therapy with dexamethasone demonstrated that the agent reduced the synthesis of hydrocortisone to a greater extent than that of corticosterone. The administration of depot-synacthen 24 hours later elevated the content of all hydrocortisone fractions and biologically active corticosterone. Depot-synacthen exerted an active stimulating action on the adrenal cortex.