Endocrinology

ACTH, Plasma

Optimal Result: 7.2 - 63.3 pg/mL.

ACTH is a pituitary hormone that stimulates the production of cortisol from the adrenal glands. Cortisol levels are usually highest between 6 and 8 a.m. and at the lowest around 11 p.m. 

Cortisol is the hormone that is released during stress. It essentially revs up your body so you can handle the stress you are encountering. One of the types of stress you can experience is physiological stress, or negative things that are happening within your metabolism such as low blood sugar or high blood sugar.  

ACTH levels vary during the day. If it’s too high or too low, you may be diagnosed with Cushing’s syndrome. If it’s too high, you may have Addison disease, or if too low, you may have a low functioning pituitary.

Normal Ranges for ACTH in pg/mL:

Adults/children: 7.2-63 pg/mL

Females 5-27 pg/mL   Males 7-50 pg/mL

Prepuberty: 7-28 pg/mL

Postpuberty: 2-49 pg/mL

These values are for morning draws, not evening draws.

 

Sources:

  1. https://www.mayomedicallaboratories.com/test-catalog/Overview/8411
  2. https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2088760-overview
  3. https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=167&ContentID=acth_blood 

What does it mean if your ACTH, Plasma result is too low?

Decreased levels of ACTH are seen in the following conditions:

- Congenital ACTH deficiency

- Skull fracture that causes a traumatic brain injury

- Hypophysitis, either autoimmune or drug-induced

- Hypothalamus diseases from infections

- Pituitary adenoma

- Infection of the pituitary

- Radiotherapy of the pituitary

- Hemorrhage of the pituitary

- Sella turcica lesions

- Pituitary corticotroph disease

- Glucocorticoid medication

What does it mean if your ACTH, Plasma result is too high?

High levels of ACTH may result from any of the following conditions: 

- Cushing’s disease (pituitary adenoma)

- Non-pituitary tumor 

- Depression

- Alcoholism

- Anorexia nervosa

- Primary adrenal insufficiency (called Addison disease)

- Congenital adrenal hyperplasia

- 21-hydroxylase or 17-alpha-hydroxylase deficiency

- 3-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency

- Cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme deficiency

- Nelson syndrome (patients with Cushing’s disease that have had adrenal glands removed) 

- Those who have developed human antimouse antibodies or heterophilic antibodies

10 000+ happy clients
100% satisfaction
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ customer support

Understand blood, stool, and urine medical results from all your laboratories.

Get Started With Our Personal Plan

Advanced Plan

  • ✓ Yearly subscription
  • ✓ Five free uploads
  • ✓ Cancel anytime
  • ✓ Instant interpretations
  • ✓ Use the free self-upload form
  • ✓ 3000+ biomarkers explained
  • ✓ Nutrition Recommendations
  • ✓ Dedicated support
  • ✓ Yearly subscription
  • ✓ Five free uploads
  • ✓ Cancel anytime
$79 per year
  • ✓ Instant interpretations
  • ✓ Use the free self-upload form
  • ✓ 3000+ biomarkers explained
  • ✓ Nutrition Recommendations
  • ✓ Dedicated support

Unlimited Plan

  • ✓ No subscription
  • ✓ Ten free uploads
  • ✓ Unlimited access
  • ✓ Instant interpretations
  • ✓ Use the free self-upload form
  • ✓ 3000+ biomarkers explained
  • ✓ Nutrition Recommendations
  • ✓ Dedicated support
  • ✓ No subscription
  • ✓ Ten free uploads
  • ✓ Unlimited access
$250 full version

Are You a Health Professional?

Get started with our professional plan

Welcome to Healthmatters Pro.

Save time on interpreting lab results with the largest database of biomarkers online. In-depth research on any test at your fingertips, all stored and tracked in one place. Learn more

Pro Plan

for health professionals

  • ✓ Track multiple clients results
  • ✓ No setup fees
  • ✓ No hidden costs
  • ✓ Cancel anytime
  • ✓ Instant interpretations
  • ✓ Use the free template forms
  • ✓ 3000+ biomarkers explained
  • ✓ Additional team member $25
  • ✓ Personal training and support

$45 per month

Use promo code to save 10% off any plan.


We implement proven measures to keep your data safe.

At HealthMatters, we're committed to maintaining the security and confidentiality of your personal information. We've put industry-leading security standards in place to help protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of the information under our control. We use procedural, physical, and electronic security methods designed to prevent unauthorized people from getting access to this information. Our internal code of conduct adds additional privacy protection. All data is backed up multiple times a day and encrypted using SSL certificates. See our Privacy Policy for more details.

×

Understand Your Lab Result Now

  • Instant interpretation
  • 3000+ biomarkers explained
  • Science-based recommendations
  • Online support
  • Secure and private portal

Get 10% off with promocode: