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synacthen test

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BiomedNyorks
BiomedNyorks

I had this test, results were baseline cortisol 508nmol/L. Cortisol at 30 mins 690nnol/L and 60 mins 782nmol/L. I had the synacthen IV, but not sure of the dose.

Felt stressed before the test as it took 30mns and 3 attempts to put the line in.

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • cool_catalan
    cool_catalan BiomedNyorks

    Posted

    Yes, I felt stress as well because it was getting well pass the 'early hour' for checking the cortisol. If you are not sure of the dose.... I cannot check or imagine what the results are...

    If you ask the UK Addison's disease Association, they will probably ask you the dose...

  • BiomedNyorks
    BiomedNyorks

    Posted

    hi, l have phone to find out synacthen dose. l was given 250micrograms IV.

  • Roddy999
    Roddy999 BiomedNyorks

    Posted

    Hi,

    First of all, the dose of synacthen* is not critical so long as it is enough - it is an on/off trigger. It is 'just' a copy of the signal hormone that your pituitary would send to your adrenal glands to order up some cortisol, which they produce in response to physiological stress - inflamation, injury and the like. (A one-off psycological stress caused by having the test done [even awkardly] won't affect the result. The object of the test it to confirm (or deny) that your adrenals are responding to orders from the pituitary (which sends this kind of signal hormone to many major hormone-producing organs) to produce cortisol when needed.

    Your baseline cortisol is well within the normal limits and the response from your adrenals looks to my amateur eye to be spot on.

    • Synacthen : Synthetic ACTH (Adrenocorticotropic hormone, if you must know!)
  • Roddy999
    Roddy999 BiomedNyorks

    Posted

    Just to clear up a possible misunderstanding...

    The synacthen test shows that your adrenal glands react normally when requested, so you definitely don't have Addison's.

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