ACTH is the adrenocorticotropic hormone also known as corticotropin.It is produced in the cells of the anterior pituitary (front lobe of the pituitary gland) under the influence of CRH (corticotropin-releasing hormone). ACTH, in turn, controls the biosynthesis and release of hormones from the adrenal cortex.
The process
Material needed
- EDTA blood
Preparation of the patient
- Not necessary
Disruptive factors
- Bringing to the lab by car service or
- Centrifuge, sieve and send in frozen.
Normal value
Time of day | Normal value in pg/ml |
8-10 | 10-60 |
20-22 | 3-30 |
Indications
- Suspected adrenocortical insufficiency (hypofunction of the adrenal cortex).
- Suspicion of Cushing’s syndrome – group of diseases leading to hypercortisolism (hypercortisolism) – oversupply of cortisol.
Interpretation
Interpretation of increased values
- Anxiety, stress
- Primary adrenocortical insufficiency (Addison’s disease).
- Secondary Cushing’s syndrome (i.e., ACTH-dependent Cushing’s syndrome).
- Ectopic ACTH production in the context of malignant neoplasms such as bronchial carcinoma (lung cancer), pancreatic carcinoma (pancreatic cancer).
Interpretation of decreased values
- Primary Cushing’s syndrome (due to a tumor of the adrenal cortex).
- Secondary adrenocortical insufficiency (due to: pituitary tumors, hypothalamic tumors (e.g., craniopharyngeoma, germinoma, etc.), tumor metastases, granulomas (e.g., sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, syphilis, eosinophilic granuloma, etc.), hemochromatosis, amyloidosis, trauma, radiotherapy, Sheehan’s syndrome)
- Tertiary adrenal insufficiency (due to hypothalamic dysfunction).