Simple Diagnostic Chart
Source of pathology | CRH | ACTH | DHEA | DHEA-S | cortisol | aldosterone | renin | Na | K | Causes5 |
hypothalamus (tertiary)1 |
low | low | low | low | low3 | low | low | low | low | tumor of the hypothalamus (adenoma), antibodies, environment, head injury |
pituitary (secondary) |
high2 | low | low | low | low3 | low | low | low | low | tumor of the pituitary (adenoma), antibodies, environment, head injury, surgical removal6, Sheehan's syndrome |
adrenal glands (primary)7 |
high | high | high | high | low4 | low | high | low | high | tumor of the adrenal (adenoma), stress, antibodies, environment, Addison's, injury, surgical removal |
1 | Automatically includes diagnosis of secondary (hypopituitarism) |
2 | Only if CRH production in the hypothalamus is intact |
3 | Value doubles or more in stimulation |
4 | Value less than doubles in stimulation |
5 | Most common, doesn't include all possible causes |
6 | Usually because of very large tumor (macroadenoma) |
7 | Includes Addison's disease |
Read more about this topic: ACTH Stimulation Test
Famous quotes containing the words simple and/or chart:
“There are men whose manners have the same essential splendor as the simple and awful sculpture on the friezes of the Parthenon, and the remains of the earliest Greek art.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (18031882)
“Perhaps in His wisdom the Almighty is trying to show us that a leader may chart the way, may point out the road to lasting peace, but that many leaders and many peoples must do the building.”
—Eleanor Roosevelt (18841962)