Plasma levels of ACTH and cortisol in bilharzial and non-bilharzial individuals during halothane and nitrous oxide anaesthesia.

The effect of stress of anaesthesia and surgery was studied in non-bilharzial and bilharzial individuals. Estimation of ACTH and cortisol was carried out by the radio-immunoassay (RIA) technique. The level of ACTH and cortisol was found to be lower in unanaesthetized bilharzial subjects than in normal individuals. Under the effect of anaesthesia and surgery the elevation in the level of both hormones was also lower in bilharzial than in non-bilharzial patients. The response to the stress of anaesthesia and surgery was more marked during halothane than during nitrous oxide anaesthesia.