Adrenocorticotropic Hormone: Results
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Results
An adrenocorticotropic hormone test measures the level of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in the blood.
Results of an ACTH test are usually available in 4 to 6 days.
Normal
Normal values vary widely from lab to lab.
| 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. | |
|---|---|
| 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. | Less than 50 pg/mL or less than 11 pmol/L |
High values
High levels of ACTH may be caused by:
- Emotional or physical stress (such as recent surgery or severe pain).
- Diseases such as Addison's disease, Cushing's disease, or a tumor in the adrenal glands or the pituitary gland.
Low values
Low levels of ACTH may be caused by:
- Damage to the pituitary gland from surgery, radiation, stroke, head injury, or a tumor.
- An increased amount of cortisol from a tumor in the adrenal glands (Cushing's syndrome).
| Condition | ACTH | Cortisol |
|---|---|---|
Cushing's disease | High | High |
Cushing's syndrome | Low | High |
ACTH made outside the pituitary gland | High | High |
Addison's disease | High | Low |
Hypopituitarism | Low | Low |
| Last updated: | June 26, 2008 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Bets Davis, MFA |
| Reviewed By: | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine, David C.W. Lau, MD, PhD, FRCPC - Endocrinology & Metabolism |
| Editors: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer |
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