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Adrenal Gland in Major Depression: Enlarged Capacity or Enhanced Sensitivity?

Victor S. Fang, PhD; Hann-Kuang Jiang, MD; Robert P. Rose, MD, PhD; Daniel J. Luchins, MD
Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1988;45(10):964-965. doi:10.1001/archpsyc.1988.01800340092017
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To the Editor.—  In the March 1987 issue of the Archives, Jaeckle et al1 reported their findings confirming that the adrenal sensitivity to exogenous corticotropin (ACTH) was enhanced in patients with major depressive disorder. Based on their findings, they further suggested that this adrenal abnormality might be related pathophysiologically to the resistance of cortisol secretion to dexamethasone suppression. We want to contest both their confirmation and suggestion, as the article contains several questionable statements.A major problem was the use of an intravenous bolus of a supraphysiological dose of ACTH α1-24 (cosyntropin) to test the adrenal sensitivity. In our previous studies,2 the dose of cosyntropin to mimic a maximum physiologically stimulated ACTH level, such as that seen during insulin hypoglycemia in normal subjects, was on the order of 0.02 to 0.05 μg/kg. A dose of 250 μg of cosyntropin is 60 to 70 times that in an

REFERENCES

Jaeckle RS, Kathol RG, Lopez JF, Meller WH, Krummel SJ:  Enhanced adrenal sensitivity to exogenous Cosyntropin (ACTH α1-24) stimulation in major depression . Arch Gen Psychiatry 1987;;44:233-240.
Graybeal ML, Fang VS:  Physiological dosing of exogenous ACTH . Acta Endocrinol 1985;;108:401-406.
Alsever RN, Gotlin RW: Handbook of Endocrine Tests in Adults and Children . Chicago, Year Book Medical Publishers Inc, 1978;.
Sherman B, Pfohl B, Winokur G:  Circadian analysis of plasma cortisol levels before and after dexamethasone administration in depressed patients . Arch Gen Psychiatry 1984;;41:271-275.
Graybeal ML, Fang VS, Landau RL:  Enhancement of adrenal cortisol secretion after intravenous high dose dexamethasone . J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1985;;61:607-611.

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Jaeckle RS, Kathol RG, Lopez JF, Meller WH, Krummel SJ:  Enhanced adrenal sensitivity to exogenous Cosyntropin (ACTH α1-24) stimulation in major depression . Arch Gen Psychiatry 1987;;44:233-240.
Graybeal ML, Fang VS:  Physiological dosing of exogenous ACTH . Acta Endocrinol 1985;;108:401-406.
Alsever RN, Gotlin RW: Handbook of Endocrine Tests in Adults and Children . Chicago, Year Book Medical Publishers Inc, 1978;.
Sherman B, Pfohl B, Winokur G:  Circadian analysis of plasma cortisol levels before and after dexamethasone administration in depressed patients . Arch Gen Psychiatry 1984;;41:271-275.
Graybeal ML, Fang VS, Landau RL:  Enhancement of adrenal cortisol secretion after intravenous high dose dexamethasone . J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1985;;61:607-611.

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