Medical Definition of Metyrapone test

1. This test measures the ability of the pituitary gland to secrete ACTH in response to a low serum cortisol level. Under normal conditions a low serum cortisol level should stimulate the pituitary to produce ACTH, which stimulates the adrenal glands to produce more cortisol. This test is performed by injecting metyrapone into the bloodstream and then measuring cortisol levels over a period of time. Metyrapone is a substance which inhibits an enzyme (steroid 11-beta hydroxylase) involved in the synthesis of cortisol. This enzyme normally converts 11-deoxycortisol to cortisol. When the enzyme is inhibited, 11-deoxycortisol levels will increase in the blood and urine and cortisol levels will go down. This test is useful in differentiating the different forms of Cushing's syndrome: adrenal hyperplasia versus primary adrenal tumour. Those with an adrenal tumour (or carcinoma) generally have no response to metyrapone injection, since the dose is insufficient to inhibit cortisol synthesis. (27 Sep 1997)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Metyrapone Test

metsovone
metsulfuron-methyl
mett
mettle
mettled
mettles
mettlesome
mettlesomeness
metts
metuloid
metuloids
metump
metumps
metyrapone
metyrapone reductase
metyrapone test (current term)
metyrosine
metœci
metœcus
meu
meuniere
meus
meused
meuses
meusing
mevalonate
mevalonates
mevalonic
mevalonic acid

Other Resources:

Search for Metyrapone test on Dictionary.com!Search for Metyrapone test on Thesaurus.com!Search for Metyrapone test on Google!Search for Metyrapone test on Wikipedia!

Search