Abstract
A 47-year-old woman presented with a pituitary microadenoma manifesting as typical Cushing's syndrome. The diagnosis was Cushing's disease based on the endocrinological findings. Plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels were greatly increased from 66 pg/ml to 2490 pg/ml (about 38-fold) in response to the administration of 100 microg human growth hormone-releasing peptide (GHRP)-2. GHRP receptor type 1a messenger ribonucleic acid was detected in the tumor. Therefore, GHRP-2 may stimulate ACTH via the GHRP receptor type 1a in pituitary ACTH-producing tumor. The GHRP-2 test, currently clinically available in Japan, may be a useful diagnostic tool for Cushing's disease.
Publication types
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Case Reports
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Adenoma / complications
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Adenoma / genetics
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Adenoma / metabolism*
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Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / analysis
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Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / blood*
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Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / metabolism
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Biomarkers / analysis
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Biomarkers / blood
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Female
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Humans
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Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / metabolism
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Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / physiopathology
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Middle Aged
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Oligopeptides* / pharmacology
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Pituitary ACTH Hypersecretion / diagnosis*
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Pituitary ACTH Hypersecretion / etiology
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Pituitary ACTH Hypersecretion / physiopathology*
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Pituitary Neoplasms / complications
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Pituitary Neoplasms / genetics
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Pituitary Neoplasms / metabolism*
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Pituitary-Adrenal System / metabolism
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Pituitary-Adrenal System / physiopathology
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Predictive Value of Tests
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RNA, Messenger / metabolism
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Receptors, Neuropeptide / genetics
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Receptors, Pituitary Hormone-Regulating Hormone / genetics
Substances
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Biomarkers
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Oligopeptides
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RNA, Messenger
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Receptors, Neuropeptide
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Receptors, Pituitary Hormone-Regulating Hormone
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somatocrinin receptor
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Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
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growth hormone-releasing peptide-2