17-ketosteroids and Respiratory-Insufficiency

Adrenocortical function and plasma growth hormone pattern were investigated in 15 patients with chronic obstructive lung disease, in a period of acute respiratory failure and again after recovery. During the acute period, secretion rate and plasma concentrations of cortisol were markedly enhanced; urinary excretion of cortisol metabolites was only slightly increased, suggesting an alteration of the catabolism of cortisol under these conditions; adrenocortical sensitivity to corticotropin and capacity of maximal adrenal secretion were normal. The increase of cortisol secretion was probably due to hypoxemia and/or hypercapnia acting through the hypothalamo-pituitary axis. During the chronic phase of respiratory insufficiency, adrenocortical secretion and responsiveness were within the normal range. Finally, respiratory failure did not stimulate the secretion of growth hormone.

Topics: 17-Ketosteroids; Adrenal Glands; Adult; Aged; Carbon Dioxide; Female; Growth Hormone; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Hydroxysteroids; Lung Diseases, Obstructive; Male; Middle Aged; Oxygen; Respiratory Insufficiency; Secretory Rate

Topics: 17-Ketosteroids; Central Nervous System Diseases; Chromatography; Creatinine; Electroencephalography; Female; Glucagon; Glucose; Glucose Tolerance Test; Glycosuria; Humans; Hyperglycemia; Hypoglycemia; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Newborn, Diseases; Insulin; Respiratory Insufficiency; Seizures

Topics: 17-Ketosteroids; Adolescent; Adrenal Glands; Adult; Aged; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pituitary-Adrenal Function Tests; Potassium; Respiratory Insufficiency; Sodium

Topics: 17-Ketosteroids; Endopeptidases; Humans; Pulmonary Heart Disease; Respiratory Insufficiency; Urine