The adrenocortical function in children: preliminary report.

Abstract

SUMMARYThe basal excretion of total 17‐hydroxycorticosteroids has been studied in urine altogether in 141 children from infants to 15 years of age and the adrenocortical reserve during a 2 days intramuscular ACTH‐test of 0.55 units of depot‐ACTH (Acton prolongatum. Nordiska Hormonlaboratoriet, Malmo) per kilogram of body weight twice daily in 63 children.During the first and second days of life 1.0–1.1 mg of 17‐OHCS are excreted. The basal excretion diminishes during the first month and increases during the first year. At the age of 4–6 years it is 3.7 mg. At the age of 7–10 years the basal excretion can reach the level of adults, 5 mg.The excretion of 17‐OHCS of ACTH‐days during the first month is almost three to four times and at the age of 1–4 years two to three times the basal excretion. The adrenocortical reserve in children increases with the age remarkably clearly as early as in the 4–6 year old children and approximately follows the length curve of children. In the group of 4–6 years the average excretion is during the first ACTH‐day 8.6 mg and the second ACTH‐day 14.1 mg, clearly bigger than in the previous group. At the age of 7–10 years it is during the first ACTH‐day 10.7 mg and during the second ACTH‐day 12.7 mg and in the 11–15 year old children 14.5 mg and 13.4 mg respectively. Per kilogram of body weight the basal excretion has been higher in children than in adults.