Cosyntropin
Cosyntropin is a synthetic ACTH fragment used in CORTROSYN to assess adrenal cortisol response. It is a diagnostic agent, not routine hormone-replacement therapy.
At a glance
- Evidence stage
- Approved use
- Regulatory status
- CORTROSYN is US-approved as a diagnostic aid, together with other tests, to screen for adrenocortical insufficiency in adult and pediatric patients.
- Research context
- Cosyntropin is a synthetic ACTH fragment used in CORTROSYN to assess adrenal cortisol response. It is a diagnostic agent, not routine hormone-replacement therapy.
What this is
- Cosyntropin is a synthetic ACTH fragment used in CORTROSYN to assess adrenal cortisol response. It is a diagnostic agent, not routine hormone-replacement therapy.
What this isn't
- A recommendation to use, prepare, combine, or administer a product
- Evidence that a related molecule or a differently formulated product has the same effects
Cosyntropin is a synthetic ACTH fragment used in CORTROSYN to assess adrenal cortisol response. It is a diagnostic agent, not routine hormone-replacement therapy.
Cosyntropin stimulates the adrenal cortex in a manner similar to natural ACTH, allowing clinicians to assess the resulting cortisol response. The biological question is whether the adrenal system can respond appropriately under standardized testing conditions. A temporary rise in cortisol during a test is not evidence that an underlying endocrine disorder has been permanently corrected. Product label.
Evidence limits
How to read the evidence
Testing requires interpretation with symptoms, medical history, concurrent medicines, and the laboratory assay. A small healthy-volunteer study cannot exclude all timing effects in ill patients. CORTROSYN should not be confused with repository corticotropin used for certain diseases, and a diagnostic response does not justify unsupervised use of either product. Product-specific scope.
Sources appraised 2026-10-28. Educational information; not medical advice. Study findings apply to the populations, preparations and outcomes described.
External sources and citations
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