Studies on Adrenocortical Eosinopenia: A Clinical and Statistical Evaluation of Four-Hour Eosinophil Response Tests 12

Normal variation in the count of circulating eosinophils in man

“…These authors state that in normal subjects 25 mg of ACTH injected intramuscularly causes a fall in eosinophil count to at least 50 % after 4 hr. Others have found that occasional patients suffering from Addison's disease may show in this test an eosinopenia of more than 50 % (de Mowbray & Bishop, 1953) and that occasional normal individuals show a response of less than 50 %, although the ACTH preparations used retain full activity (Best, Muehrcke & Kark, 1952). These anomalous results might well have been caused by normal variation, within the limits suggested above, superimposed on the effect of added ACTH.…”

“…However, it is likely that eosinophil counts will continue to be used in some investigations as they are relatively simple to carry out. The performance of duplicate tests for clinical purposes as suggested by Best et al (1952) should eliminate most of the unsatisfactory responses, while due attention to the normal level of eosinophil variation in planning physiological experiments should enable valid results to be obtained. The analysis of variance given above provides data which can be used for the latter purpose.…”

The Effects of Surgery on the Blood Levels and Metabolism and 17-Hydroxycorticosteroids in Man12

“…8 It has also been demonstrated that certain metabolic changes which are similar to the effects which follow the administration of adrenocortical steroids are observable in both man and animals after trauma. A number of studies have shown, however, that although the presence of adrenal hormone is essential for the intensification of the adrenal-controlled metabolic processes following trauma, similar responses are produced in adrenalectomized animals maintained on constant doses of adrenal cortical extract, cortisone or hydrocortisone, where there can be no question of increased adrenal hormone secretion (4-6).…”

“…A number of studies have shown, however, that although the presence of adrenal hormone is essential for the intensification of the adrenal-controlled metabolic processes following trauma, similar responses are produced in adrenalectomized animals maintained on constant doses of adrenal cortical extract, cortisone or hydrocortisone, where there can be no question of increased adrenal hormone secretion (4-6). Epinephrine, which Cannon (7) demonstrated long ago to be regularly increased after "stress" and trauma, appears not to produce a rise in plasma 17-hydroxycorticosteroid levels in the human but requires the presence of small amounts of adrenal cortical hormone for its adrenal-like metabolic effects to become manifest (8,9).…”

Chlorpromazine and Operative Stress in a Tropical Hospital

“…A fall of 50% in the absolute eosinophil count is regarded as evidence of cortical activity. Estimations of the uric acid/creatinine ratios in the urine were not done, and it must be admitted that the eosinophil count alone is not a reliable index of cortical function (Best et al, 1952;Meyer, 1953). Total eosinophil counts were carried out during operation in 25 patients.…”