What is "corticorelin"

n. A corticotropin-releasing hormone used as a diagnostic agent.

Corticorelin ( INN) is a diagnostic agent. It is a synthetic form of human corticotropin-releasing hormone (hCRH).

The corticorelin stimulation test helps to differentiate between the etiologies of adrenocorticotropic hormone (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.