[Endogenous cortisol levels after intrathecal injection of triamicinolone acetonide in patients with neurological disease (author's transl)].

A single dose of 40 mg triamcinolone acetonide was injected intrathecally in 30 patients with multiple sclerosis and 20 with other neurological diseases. In 15 of them the endogenous cortisol level was determined on three successive days and their cerebrospinal fluid examined before the triamcinolone injection was given. Cortisol levels were then measured serially for another 15 days after the injection. Contrary to the response after intramuscular injection, the endogenous secretion of cortisol was not significantly depressed after intrathecal administration. The latter is, therefore, suggested in the treatment of inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system and its integuments, and for acute exacerbations of multiple sclerosis.