suppressietesten

Suppresietesten, or suppression tests, are a family of diagnostic procedures used mainly in endocrinology to evaluate hormonal regulation by intentionally suppressing endogenous hormone production with administered substances. The goal is to reveal how well the body’s feedback systems control hormone secretion and to distinguish between disorders that arise from autonomous hormone production and those that are regulated by feedback mechanisms.

The most well-known example is the dexamethasone suppression test (DST). In this test, dexamethasone is given orally in a prescribed regimen, and cortisol levels are measured afterward. Normal results show reduced cortisol due to intact negative feedback, while insufficient suppression suggests autonomous cortisol production, as seen in Cushing’s syndrome. High-dose DST can help differentiate pituitary causes (such as Cushing’s disease) from ectopic ACTH secretion, since pituitary sources are more likely to show some suppression with higher dexamethasone doses.

Another commonly used suppression test is the growth hormone (GH) suppression test, typically involving an oral glucose load. In healthy individuals, GH levels fall after glucose ingestion; failure to suppress GH can indicate acromegaly or GH-secreting tumors.

Indications for suppression tests include suspected hypercortisolism, GH excess, and certain disorders of puberty or gonadal function. Interpretation depends on the specific test, assay methods, and clinical context. Limitations include medication interactions, pregnancy, hepatic or renal impairment, and assay variability, which can lead to false positives or negatives. The term suppressietesten varies by language, but in many contexts English equivalents include suppression test, dexamethasone suppression test, and GH suppression test.