Abstract

We compared the baseline cortisol secretory pattern and ACTH and cortisol responses to hCRH (100 μg) in eight patients acutely withdrawn from ethanol and 12 patients who abstained from ethanol for two to six weeks. Acute withdrawal from ethanol was characterized by elevated baseline cortisol and blunted ACTH release after hCRH, while medium-term abstention was associated with normalized cortisol secretion but persistence of decreased ACTH output following stimulation. These findings support an altered corticotrophic CRH receptor function in detoxified sober alcoholics. The pathophysiology underlying the blunted ACTH response to hCRH in medium-term ethanol abstention appears to be different from that in acute alcohol withdrawal and hypercortisolemic depression.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.