Effect of the antiserotonin drug, cyproheptadine, on plasma beta-endorphin and beta-lipotropin in patients with Itsenko-Cushing's disease.

In the present paper evidences are provided for the changes occurring in blood opioid neuropeptides in patients with Itsenko-Cushing's disease), who were treated with an antiserotonin drug, cyproheptadine (peritol). An increase in the plasma contents of beta-endorphin and beta-lipotrophin in the above patients has been found to be one of the factors conditioning an enhanced activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system. Treatment of the patients suffering from Itsenko-Cushing's disease with cyproheptadine (peritol) resulted in a decrease of the plasma beta-endorphin and beta-lipotropin, as well as a display in 60% of cases of clinical and laboratory remission. Absence of the clinical remission in some patients treated with peritol indicated a need for intervention in the metabolism of other monoamines involved in the modulation of the action of opioid neuropeptides on the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary system.