Exaggerated response of adrenocorticotropic hormone to growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 test in Cushing's disease. Case report.

Abstract

A 47-year-old woman presented with a pituitary microadenoma manifesting as typical Cushing's syndrome. The diagnosis was Cushing's disease based on the endocrinological findings. Plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels were greatly increased from 66 pg/ml to 2490 pg/ml (about 38-fold) in response to the administration of 100 microg human growth hormone-releasing peptide (GHRP)-2. GHRP receptor type 1a messenger ribonucleic acid was detected in the tumor. Therefore, GHRP-2 may stimulate ACTH via the GHRP receptor type 1a in pituitary ACTH-producing tumor. The GHRP-2 test, currently clinically available in Japan, may be a useful diagnostic tool for Cushing's disease.

• Authors: Satoru Sakihara, Kazunori Kageyama, Atsufumi Matsumoto, Hidetoshi Ikeda, Yuko Tsushima, Maki Naraoka, Ken Terui, Takeshi Nigawara, Toshihiro Suda
• Journal: Neurologia medico-chirurgica (Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo)) Vol. 49 Issue 8 Pg. 365-9 (Aug 2009) ISSN: 1349-8029 [Electronic] Japan
• PMID: 19707004 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• Oligopeptides
• RNA, Messenger
• Receptors, Neuropeptide
• Receptors, Pituitary Hormone-Regulating Hormone
• somatocrinin receptor
• Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
• growth hormone-releasing peptide-2

Topics

• Adenoma (complications, genetics, metabolism)
• Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (analysis, blood, metabolism)
• Biomarkers (analysis, blood)
• Female
• Humans
• Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System (metabolism, physiopathology)
• Middle Aged
• Oligopeptides (pharmacology)
• Pituitary ACTH Hypersecretion (diagnosis, etiology, physiopathology)
• Pituitary Neoplasms (complications, genetics, metabolism)
• Pituitary-Adrenal System (metabolism, physiopathology)
• Predictive Value of Tests
• RNA, Messenger (metabolism)
• Receptors, Neuropeptide (genetics)
• Receptors, Pituitary Hormone-Regulating Hormone (genetics)