Alteration of blood adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol level in rheumatoid arthritis patients

Objectives: To investigate whether the pituitary-adrenal axis may be altered under long-term inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis as well as the effect of steroid administration. Subjects and methods: Concentration of blood adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol were measured in 140 rheumatoid arthritis patients and 60 people used as control group.