Synacthen Test. Investigations into addison's | 合法醫療器材資訊網

2021年1月25日—Whatisasynacthentest?...Asynacthentestusesaspecialchemicaltotesthowwellyouradrenalglandsmakeachemical(hormone)called ...

A synacthen test uses a special chemical to test how well the adrenal glands make a chemical (hormone) called cortisol. It involves stimulating the adrenal glands and then checking to see if they respond. Synacthen is another name for tetracosactide, the chemical used in the test.

During the synacthen test a chemical called tetracosactide is given (synacthen is the commercial name of this chemical). Tetracosactide is a chemical copy of ACTH.

ACTH is the chemical (hormone) released by the pituitary gland which stimulates the adrenal glands to produce cortisol. If the adrenal glands are working properly they should respond to the tetracosactide by producing cortisol. Levels of cortisol are checked by taking a blood sample.

If levels of cortisol remain low, despite the tetracosactide injection, this suggests there is a problem with the function of the adrenal glands. See the separate leaflet called Addisons Disease for more details[1].

A synacthen test can be ca...