Adrenal Response to Synthetic Adrenocorticotrophic Hormone during Pregnancy and after Delivery, with Special Reference to Pre-Eclamptic and Hypertensive Pregnancy

Abstract

The response of the adrenal cortex to synthetic adrenocorticotrophic hormone (Homactid^R) was studied in 49 patients during the last trimester of pregnancy and in 53 patients two days post partum. The plasma cortisol was determined by a fluorimetric method. In the patients with severe pre-eclampsia the adrenal response was weaker than in normal control patients both during pregnancy and after delivery. Mild pre-eclampsia did not affect adrenocortical activity. The adrenocortical response of patients with hypertensive disease was as strong as that of the control group but shorter in duration. Short-term synthetic adrenocorticotrophin test is useful in the examination of adrenal disorders during pregnancy and after delivery.

Key Words:

• Pregnancy
• puerperium
• synthetic ACTH-test