ACTH: At a Glance

ACTH

Also known as: Corticotropin
Formal name: Adrenocorticotropic hormone
Related tests: Cortisol, Cortrosyn (ACTH) stimulation test, Dexamethasone suppression test

email this page

print this article

was this page helpful

	At A Glance
	Why get tested? To help diagnose adrenal and pituitary diseases such as Cushing’s syndrome, Cushing’s disease, Addison’s disease, adrenal tumors, and pituitary tumors When to get tested? When you have symptoms associated with excess or deficient cortisol production; when your doctor suspects that you have a hormone imbalance that could be caused by a problem in your pituitary or adrenal glands Sample required? A blood sample drawn from a vein in your arm Next >>

This article was last reviewed on May 5, 2006.
This page was last modified on April 8, 2009.

The review date indicates when the article was last reviewed from beginning to end to ensure that it reflects the most current science. A review may not require any modifications to the article, so the two dates may not always agree.

The modified date indicates that one or more changes were made to the page. Such changes may or may not result from a full review of the page, so the two dates may not always agree.

In the News • Understanding Your Tests • Inside the Lab
About the Site • Site Map • Send Us Your Comments • Home

We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health
information:
verify here.