Adrenocortical function in old age as reflected by plasma cortisol and ACTH test during the course of acute myocardial infarction

Abstract

Adrenocortical function, as reflected by sequential analysis of plasma cortisol and adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) test, was investigated in elderly patients (⩾ 65 years) with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and compared to young patients (⩽ 55 years) with AMI. Further, age-matched subjects admitted with ischaemic chest pain, in whom AMI was not verified, served as controls. Following infarction, plasma cortisol peaked within 24 hours in both age groups, whereupon the cortisol level gradually decreased till day 12. Plasma cortisol during AMI disclosed no age-related difference, but was significantly correlated to the localization of infarction and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). The development of complications, i.e. hypotension, congestive heart failure, and arrhythmia, calling for therapeutic intervention, was solely correlated to infarct size, as estimated by peak LDH. Young and elderly patients responded equally and normally to ACTH stimulation, and in both groups a significant, positive correlation between the basal and the 30-min plasma cortisol was observed. Thus, we may conclude that in patients with AMI, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) response to stress and ACTH test shows no repression due to age.