Clinical Trial: Dose Response Relationship for Single Doses of Corticotropin Releasing Hormone (CRH) in Normal Volunteers and in Patients With Adrenal Insufficiency
Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Observational
Official Title: Dose Response Relationship for Single Doses of Corticotropin Releasing Hormone (CRH) in Normal Volunteers and in Patients With Adrenal Insufficiency
Brief Summary:
Corticotropin Releasing Hormone (CRH) is a hypothalamic hormone made up of 41 amino acids. Amino acids are proteins that when combined make up different substances, like hormones. The order of amino acids in CRH, has been determined, meaning that the hormone can now be synthetically reproduced in a laboratory setting.
When CRH is released from the hypothalamus it stimulates the pituitary gland to secrete another hormone, ACTH. ACTH then causes the adrenal glands to make a third hormone, cortisol. This process is known as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Problems can occur in any of the steps of this process and result in a variety of diseases (Cushing's Syndrome and adrenal insufficiency).
Researchers hope that CRH created in a laboratory setting, ovine CRH (oCRH) can be used to help diagnose and treat conditions of the HPA axis. This study will test the relationship for single doses of oCRH in normal volunteers and patients with disorders of the HPA axis. The oCRH will be injected into the patients vein as a single injection or slowly through an IV line over 24 hours. The participants will have blood tests taken to measure hormone levels before, during, and after receiving the oCRH.
Detailed Summary: Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) is a 41 amino acid hypothalamic peptide whose chemical structure has recently been determined after more than two decades of intensive research. This peptide stimulates secretion of ACTH by the corticotroph cells of the pituitary gland. As with the previously discovered hypothalamic hormones, CRH has important diagnostic and therapeutic applications. This study seeks to explore these clinical applications by determining the dose-response relationship for single doses of ovine CRH (oCRH) in normal volunteers and in patients with disorders of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. CRH is administered intravenously at doses up to 10 pg/kg, given as a bolus or up to 1 ug/kg/b as a continuous infusion lasting up to 24 hours. Plasma levels of ACTH, cortisol and CRH are measured before, during and after CRH administration.
Sponsor: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Current Primary Outcome:
Original Primary Outcome:
Current Secondary Outcome:
Original Secondary Outcome:
Information By: National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)
Dates:
Date Received: November 3, 1999
Date Started: March 1982
Date Completion: June 2005
Last Updated: March 3, 2008
Last Verified: June 2005
