Drug X is used to suppress the secretion of CRH. Two patients with hypersecretion of cortisol are given Drug X. Patient A’s cortisol secretion level remains elevated, but patient B’s cortisol secretion level falls to normal levels.
1. Determine which patient has primary hypercortisolism (if any) and which has secondary hypercortisolism (if any). Support your answer.
2. Which organ is affected (“broken”) in each patient? Can you be sure? Support your answer.
I know it is primary if the gland itself is the thing causing the problem and secondary is the regulator causing the problem. I don’t know how you can tell from this description if it is primary or secondary.