Acth Stimulation Test For 17 Oh Progesterone Blood
What is this test?
ACTH Stimulation Test For 17 OH Progesterone is a blood test, that helps to measure the 17-OH Progesterone levels that are stimulated by ACTH.
What are ACTH and 17-OH Progesterone:
ACTH is Adrenocorticotropic hormone produced by the pituitary gland. ACTH stimulates the production of several hormones that are important for regulating glucose, lipid metabolism, maintaining blood pressure and for several other body functions. Conditions that affect the hypothalamus, pituitary glands, adrenal glands can change the ACTH production.
17-hydroxyprogesterone 17-OHP is a steroid hormone that is derived from cholesterol as an inactive steroid hormone, but acts as a precursor and can be converted into active hormones.
Why this test is performed:
This test is performed to check if an individual is having abnormal levels of 17-OH Progesterone in the blood or not and also for diagnosis of non-classical adrenal hyperplasia. This test may be recommended to you by a physician if you are having any conditions such as hirsutism, abnormal menstrual periods, adrenal hyperplasia, adrenal tumors, PCOS polycystic ovary syndrome, low blood pressure, lack of energy, sex organs that are not clearly male or female, decreased appetite, virilization A condition in which women develop male sexual secondary characteristics like body and facial hair growth, deep voice etc etc.
This test is useful in the differential diagnosis of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome PCOS.
This test also helps the doctors to plan the treatment according to the medical condition and it is also performed to check the effectiveness of the treatment.
Also known as ACTH Stimulation Test For 17 OH progesterone.
Test Preparation
Inform your doctor if you are on any medications, have any allergies or underlying medical conditions before your Acth Stimulation Test For 17 Oh Progesterone Blood. Your doctor will give specific instructions depending on your condition on how to prepare for Acth Stimulation Test For 17 Oh Progesterone Blood.
In menstruating women, the physician may give some specific instructions relating to the timing of the sample collection.
Understanding your test results
If your test results are higher than the normal range then it may indicate that you are having CAH Congenital adrenal hyperplasia:- Group of genetic conditions that limits the adrenal gland hormone production or the treatment is not working and need a change in it.
If your test results are lower than the normal range then it may indicate that the treatment is working against CAH.
If abnormal test results were seen, consult your doctor with the test reports.
| Gender | Age groups | Value |
| UNISEX | All age groups | ACTH Stimulation increases Androstenidione in normal subjects, but there will not be any increase in patients with Defective Adrenal Steroidogenesis |