adreno cortico trophic hormone stimulation test Test

ACTH or Adreno Cortico Trophic Hormone is a hormone produced by the anterior portion of the pituitary gland of the brain. The main function of this hormone is to regulate the levels of cortisol, which is a steroid hormone secreted from the adrenal gland.

What is an ACTH stimulation test or Adreno Cortico Trophic Hormone stimulation test and why should you take it?

An ACTH test measures the level of the ACTH and cortisol in blood, thus helping the doctors to identify and diagnose diseases which are associated with either excess of the ACTH hormone or ACTH deficiency. Some of these diseases include:

• A tumor in the lung

• An adrenal or pituitary malfunction

• An adrenal tumor

• A tumor in the pituitary gland

You should thus undertake the test, if your doctor has recommended to do so to either identify the occurrence of these diseases or to rule out their possibility when you have the related symptoms.

The normal range of ACTH level in blood should be greater than 18-20 mcg/dL, irrespective of the gender and age group of the patient.

There a few symptoms observed in your body when your ACTH level in blood is either too high or too low. Consequently, it would also affect the cortisol level in your body as its secretion is the responsibility of the Adreno Cortico Trophic Hormone. These symptoms however can differ from person to person and it is not necessary that one person will experience all of these.

The symptoms of low ACTH are as follows:

• Excessive weakness and weak muscles

• Low blood pressure

• Loss of apetite

• Sudden and unreasonable weight loss

• High level of potasssium

• Excessive fatigue

• High level of potassium

• Low level of blood sugar

• High sodium level

The symptoms of high ACTH include:

• Increased amount of body hair

• Purple stretch marks in the body

• Thin and fragile skin

• Very weak muscles

• Pimples and acne

• Low levels of potassium

• High level of blood sugar or diabetes

• Low sodium level

• Obesity and roundness of the face

The price of the ACTH stimulation test usually ranges from Rs. 1200 to Rs. 1500 depending on the city and quality of the laboratory.

There are no specific preparations required for the ACTH stimulation test as such. But certain medicines and drugs can affect its level and that might be reflected on the test results. Therefore, if you are on some medication, make sure you convey that to your doctor and take his or her advice before you head for the test. Depending on your conditions, the doctor will give you instructions.

The sample for an ACTH lab test is collected from blood. Usually 5 ml of blood is drawn from the vein of an arm by the technician. This is usually done after at least 8 hours of fasting. Therefore, the doctor usually recommends to take the sample just after you wake up in the morning.

There are usually no risks associated with this test apart from very rare ones like fainting at the sight of blood, excessive bleeding, hematoma or infection at the site where blood has been drawn.

It is very simple to understand and interpret the results. If your ACTH level in blood falls within the normal range, there is no complication in its secretion. However both its deficient and excess requires immediate medical attention as both of these can be really harmful for health.

Deficiency of ACTH can be treated by medical practitioners either by medicines which stimulate its secretion or by artificially injecting the ACTH into blood by expert technicians, under the guidance of a doctor.

For tumors caused due to excessive ACTH or its deficiency, usually surgeries are recommended. However, some drugs are also sometimes used to bring the cortisone level to normal. The cabergoline drug is one such example.

We as a team believe in healing at home. We would visit your home to collect samples required for the test, get the test done and arrange for highly qualified doctors right at your doorstep. We can ensure that you receive the best quality Healthcare Services right at home.

The Adreno Cortico Trophic Hormone test or ACTH test is thus administered to find out the level of the Adreno Cortico Trophic hormone in blood and detect the abnormality in its level if any. This information is further utilized to treat a number of health complications arising because of the abnormal ACTH level.