No inhibition of corticotrophin (ACTH)-hypersecretion in adrenal insufficiency by somatostatin.

Somatostatin (250 micrograms as a bolus iv and 250 micrograms as a 1 h infusion) was administered to 6 patients with primary adrenal insufficiency (Addison's disease). The fall in plasma ACTH during the infusion period ranged between 0-30% with a mean reduction of 11.2 +/- 11.6%. These findings suggest that with the method employed, somatostatin is not an inhibitor of ACTH secretion in a condition in which glucocorticoids are lacking.