Direct and Indirect Estimation of Pituitary Adrenocorticotropin Reserves in Man Following Adrenal Steroid Therapy*

The effects of prolonged administration of adrenal steroids in man were studied by measuring pituitary ACTH concentration at autopsy, and also by means of a clinical test of pituitary ACTH reserve. The majority of steroid-treated patients evinced no abnormalities when compared to untreated subjects. However, a single instance of pituitary ACTH depletion and another of inadequate response to the pituitary function test were observed. Each of the latter patients had received relatively massive quantities of steroids, suggesting that a relationship may exist between the total dosage of steroids and the pituitary depletion or malfunction sometimes seen following such therapy.