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Delayed adrenal insufficiency long after unilateral adrenalectomy: Prolonged glucocorticoid therapy reduced reserved secretory capacity of cortisol
Author(s) -
KAZAMA ITSURO,
KOMATSU YASUHIRO,
OHIWA TAKAFUMI,
SANAYAMA KYO,
NAGATA MIKIO
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
international journal of urology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.172
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1442-2042
pISSN - 0919-8172
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-2042.2005.01106.x
Subject(s) - medicine , adrenal crisis , adrenal insufficiency , prednisolone , glucocorticoid , hyponatremia , adrenocorticotropic hormone , hydrocortisone , adrenalectomy , endocrinology , cortisol awakening response , hormone
A 51‐year‐old woman with Cushing's syndrome underwent unilateral adrenalectomy for left adrenal adenoma. After 7 years of prednisolone treatment (with some interruptions), followed by 4 years of total withdrawal from prednisolone treatment, she presented with hypotension, weight loss, general fatigue, nausea, hyponatremia and hypoglycemia. These clinical features together with a low response in the rapid adrenocorticotropic hormone test led to the diagnosis of acute adrenal insufficiency. Relatively low serum adrenocorticotropic hormone levels in the face of increased demand for cortisol during adrenal crisis suggested a disordered hypothalamic‐pituitary function, indicating secondary adrenal insufficiency. This patient demonstrated the etiology of acute adrenal insufficiency long after unilateral adrenalectomy in association with subsequent glucocorticoid therapy. A reduction in the reserved secretory capacity of cortisol after prolonged prednisolone treatment was considered to have induced secondary adrenal insufficiency, even after 4 years of total withdrawal from prednisolone.