A randomized, double‐blind, crossover study comparing two‐ and four‐dose hydrocortisone regimen with regard to quality of life, cortisol and ACTH profiles in patients with primary adrenal insufficiency

Summary Context Current guidelines on how to divide the daily cortisol substitution dose in patients with primary adrenal insufficiency ( PAI ) are controversial and mainly based on empirical data. Objective To assess how an equal dose of hydrocortisone ( HC ) given either four times daily or twice daily influence diurnal profiles of cortisol and ACTH , patient preferences and health‐related quality of life ( HRQ o L ). Design Double blind, crossover. Methods Fifteen patients with PAI (six women) were included. Capsules of HC or placebo were given at 07:00, 12:00, 16:00 and 22:00 h in 4‐week treatment periods: either one period with four doses (10 + 10 + 5 + 5 mg) or one period with two doses (20 + 0 + 10 + 0 mg). Diurnal profiles of cortisol and ACTH were collected, and area under the curve ( AUC ) was calculated. Questionnaires were used to evaluate patient preferences and HRQ o L . Results The four‐dose regimen gave a higher serum cortisol before tablet intake in the morning ( P   =   0·027) and a higher 24‐h cortisol AUC ( P   <   0·0001) compared with the two‐dose period. In contrast, a lower median plasma ACTH in the morning before tablet intake ( P   =   0·003) and a lower 24‐h ln( ACTH AUC ) were found during the four‐dose period. The patients preferred the four‐dose regimen ( P   =   0·03), and the HRQ o L scores tended to be higher (high score indicates better HRQ o L ) for the four‐dose period. In summary, a four‐dose regimen gives increased availability of cortisol and an enhanced effect with a less elevated ACTH in the morning in comparison with a two‐dose regimen but the effect on HRQ o L remains inconclusive.