ACTH

Alternative names:

adrenocorticotrophic hormone; highly-sensitive ACTH; serum adrenocorticotropic hormone

Normal values:

Values 9 to 52 pg/ml are normal.

Note: pg/ml = picograms per milliliter

What abnormal results mean:

Greater-than-normal levels of ACTH may be from:

• Addison's disease (because of deficient production by the adrenal gland)
• adrenoleukodystrophy (very rare)
• Cushing's disease
• ectopic tumor producing ACTH
• Nelson's syndrome (very rare)

Lower-than-normal levels of ACTH may be from:

• Cushing syndrome related to adrenal tumor
• exogenous Cushing's syndrome
• pituitary insufficiency

Additional conditions under which the test may be performed:

• hypopituitarism
• multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) I