[Studies of the basal secretion and the response to TRH (thyrotropin-relapsing factor) of TSH (thyrotropin) and prolactin in Cushing's syndrome and Nelson's syndrome (author's transl)].

The present data relate the studies of TSH and Prolactin secretion in response to TRH (500 microgram, IV) in Cushing's syndrome. Twenty-five patients were explored before treatment (4 adrenal carcinoma, 5 adrenal adenoma, 2 Cushing's diseases with patent pituitary tumor, 14 Cushing's diseases without patent pituitary tumor). Thirteen of the twenty-five patients were studied after treatment of their hypercorticism. Identical studies were realized in 5 patients receiving oral corticotherapy. The results, compared with those obtained in normal subjects are: the TSH basal values are normal or low. The TSH response is lower in untreated Cushing's disease (p2a : 0,01) and normal or low in other cases. The Prolactin basal values are significantly higher in untreated adrenal carcinoma (p2a : 0,05) and in Nelson's syndrome (p2a : 0,01), normal or high in other cases. The prolactin response before treatment is significantly higher in male Cushing's diseases (p2a : 0,05), high or normal in other cases, and unchanged in Nelson's syndrome. Those abnormalities of basal values and/or responses of TSH and Prolactin do not seem sufficiently discriminant of the etiology of Cushing's syndrome especially tumoral causes, in particular pituitary causes. They seem connected to hypercorticism because of the treatment of the last one corrects them. But other factors must be concerned in the Nelson's syndrome case.