Corticorelin

Corticorelin is a diagnostic agent. It is a corticotropin-releasing hormone.^[1]

The corticorelin stimulation test helps to differentiate between the etiologies of ACTH-dependent hypercortisolism. It is used to evaluate the status of the pituitary-adrenal axis in the differentiation of a pituitary source from an ectopic source of excessive ACTH secretion.

• If corticorelin injection increases plasma levels of ACTH and cortisol, a diagnosis of Cushing's disease is achieved (ACTH of pituitary origin).
• If corticorelin injection leads to little or no response in plasma levels of ACTH or cortisol, a diagnosis of Ectopic ACTH syndrome is confirmed.