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BACKGROUND: Spinal diseases are self-limited or non-progressive in many cases. Epidural steroid injection (ESI) is a common nonsurgical treatment option for spinal pain. Despite concerns about complications of repeated steroid injection, few studies reported on the adrenal function of spine disease patients undergoing surgery after ESI. We investigated the influence of preoperative multiple ESIs on adrenal function in spine surgery patients. METHODS: This was a retrospective study with prospective data collection. Those who underwent elective spinal operations and had a history of multiple ESIs from January to June 2017 were selected as a study group. Those who underwent knee arthroplasty and did not have a history of ESI and any kind of steroid injection in other areas during 6 months before surgery were selected as a control group. Demographic data were compared to assess homogeneity between groups. We assessed the preoperative serum cortisol level (SCL) to compare the basal adrenal function between groups. Also, we assessed the elevation of SCL postoperatively to evaluate the adrenal response to the surgical stress in each group. For subgroup analysis, we divided all patients into normal (7–28 µg/dL) and subnormal groups according to SCL and analyzed risk factors of adrenal suppression with multivariate logistic regression test. RESULTS: There were 53 patients in the study group and 130 in the control group. Age and sex were homogeneous between groups. There was significant intergroup difference in preoperative SCL (10.4 ± 4.8 µg/dL in the study group vs. 12.0 ± 4.2 µg/dL in the control group; p = 0.026).The postoperative day one SCL was 11.6 ± 5.0 µg/dL in the study group without significant increase from the preoperative level (p = 0.117), whereas the increase was significant in the control group with a postoperative level of 14.4 ± 4.4 µg/dL (p < 0.001). Among all patients, the SCL was subnormal in 18 patients and within the normal range in 165. Spine surgery was the independent risk factor irrespective of age and sex (odds ratio, 3.472; p = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that concern should be raised about the influence of preoperative multiple ESIs on adrenal suppression in spine surgery patients.
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Humans , Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee , Data Collection , Hydrocortisone , Logistic Models , Prospective Studies , Reference Values , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , Spinal Diseases , SpineABSTRACT
Objective To compare 2 kinds of low-dose in adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH) stimulation tests for evaluating adrenal function in children with primary nephrotic syndrome(PNS).Methods Seventeen patients (dose of prednisone ＜ 1 mg/kg) with PNS (PNS group) and 7 control subjects (control group) were enrolled.On the first day,all subjects were injected ACTH intravenously at 8 ∶ 00.Serum cortisol was measured just before the ACTH administration,after 20,30 minutes(the first method).On the second day,all subjects were injected ACTH intravenously at 14 ∶ 00.After the ACTH injection,blood was taken every 10 minutes for a period of 1 h to measure serum cortisol (the second method).Adrenal function was evaluated.Cortisol levels of 497 nmol/L or more were taken as normal adrenal response to low dose of ACTH stimulation.Results In the control group,all subjects showed normal adrenal function with the first method and the second method.Cortisol levels at 30 minutes were all ＞ 497 nmol/L.Cortisol levels at 0,20 and 30 min points with the first method did not differ from those with the second method(all P ＞ 0.05).In 17 PNS patients,3 cases (17.65％)and 7 cases (41.18％)showed subnormal responses with the first method and the second method,respectively.Detection rate of subnormal responses was significantly higher with the second method (P ＜0.05).In the first method,5 cases of the 17 patients showed subnormal responses at 20 minutes and 2 of above 5 cases turned to normal responses at 30 minutes.However,10 cases of the 17 patients showed subnormal responses at 20 minutes and none of above 10 cases achieved normal responses at 30 minutes with the second method.Comparison of function of adrenal cortex at 20 and 30 minutes showed that there were difference in the first and second method(P =0.025,0.008,respectively).Comparison of cortisol levels at 0,20 and 30 minutes in the first and the second method showed that there were difference at 0 minute and amplification of 20-30 minutes and there was no difference at any other points.Conclusions The low dose of ACTH test in the second method for evaluation of adrenocortical function in children with PNS is more accurate and sensitive.
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Objective To study the adrenal function in rats with pulmonary acute lung injury (ALI) induced by Escherichia coli (0111B4) . Methods ALI rat model was induced by intratracheal injection of E.coli (3 ml/kg,0111B4,(4.4-5.6) x 10~(12) CFU/L).ALI rats were then randomly divided into three groups,and each group had 10 rats.Mechanical ventilation was applied at three time points,6 hours,24 hours,and 36 hours after injection At each time point 8 rats were used as control with saline administered intratracheally.The plasma ACTH and corticosterone levels were measured after stimulated by 100 μg porcine ACTH.Results Compared with control group,the model group had a higher level of plasma ACTH at each time point (P < 0.01).The plasma ACTH level reached the peak at 24 hours.The model group had a higher level of plasma corticosterone at 6 hours (P < 0.01) and 24 hours (P <0.05),but had a lower level of plasma corticosterone at 36 hours (P < 0.05).The plasma corticosterone level reached the peak at 6 hours in model group,which was higher than 24 hours (P < 0.05).After stimulated by ACTH,the increased levels of corticosterone were lower in model group than those in control group (6 hours,P < 0.05; 24 hours and 36 hours,P < 0.01).Conclusions Adrenal dysfunction may occur at early stage of ALI in rats.With the disease developed,adrenal response to ACTH decreased.Low dose corticotrophin-stimulated test could evaluate adrenal function in rats with pulmonary ALI induced by Escherichia coli (O111B4).
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Introduction: Systemic corticosteroids are widely used in patients with acute bronchial obstruction (ABO). It has been recommended that such treatment last a maximum of 5 days to avoid adverse effects. Suppression of the adrenal axis under these conditions among children has not been evaluated. Objective: Assessment of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis (HHS) function after use of systemic steroids in children after a 5-7 day use of corticoids, utilizing the micro ACTH test. Method: Prospective observational study conducted in the Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Clínico Universidad Católica de Chile. ACTH test used with microdosis (1 mcg/1.73 m²). A normal response was determined if cortisol post-ACTH > 20 mcg/dL. Results: 7 patients were recruited, median age was 4 years 4 months (range 4 months to 8 years). The test was perfomed within an average of 72 hours after discontinuation of prednisone. All patients had normal basal cortisol values, with an average value of 6.5 mcg/dl, range 1 to 9 mcg/dl. The ACTH test yielded a response of cortisol levels with an average value of 13.6 mcg/dL and a range of 3.7 to 20 mcg/dL. Five of the 7 patients presented an abnormal response. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the adrenal response may be reduced in children who have been treated with systemic steroids for ABO even if managed during short periods of time.
Introducción: Los corticoides sistémicos son ampliamente utilizados en pacientes con crisis bronquiales obstructivo (CBO). Se ha recomendado un máximo de 5 días para evitar efectos adversos. No ha sido evaluado si tratamientos por cursos cortos pueden suprimir el eje adrenal. Objetivo: Evaluar la función del eje hipotálamo hipófisis suprarrenal (HHS) mediante la prueba de microdosis de ACTH en pacientes con CBO que recibieron corticoides sistémicos entre 5 a 7 días. Diseño: Estudio observacional prospectivo realizado en el Servicio de Pediatría del Hospital Clínico de la Universidad Católica de Chile. Prueba de ACTH con microdosis (1 mcg/1,73 m²). Se consideró como respuesta normal una respuesta de cortisol postestímulo > 20 mcg/dL. Resultados: Fueron reclutados 7 pacientes, mediana de edad de 4 años 4 meses (rango 4 meses a 8 años). Los resultados fueron obtenidos con una mediana de 72 horas de suspendidos los corticoides (prednisona). Todos los pacientes presentaban valores de cortisol basal normal promedio de 6,5 mcg/dl (rango 1 a 9 mcg/dl). La respuesta de cortisol postestímulo fue de 13,6 mcg/dL (3,7 a 20 mcg/ dL), cinco de los 7 pacientes presentaron respuesta anormal. Conclusiones: La respuesta adrenal puede estar disminuida en pacientes que usan corticoides sistémicos por cursos cortos por CBO.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Infant , Adrenal Cortex Hormones/administration & dosage , Adrenal Glands , Airway Obstruction/drug therapy , Adrenal Cortex Hormones/pharmacology , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Prospective StudiesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Pharmacological ACTH test provide information only about the ability of the adrenal gland to respond to unusual stimuli and may not reflect the daily cortisol secretion. There were some controversies in the diagnosis of mild adrenal insufficiency by using a pharmacological dose of ACTH. The purpose of the present study was to assess and compare the effect of low dose 1 pg ACTH and high dose 249 pg ACTH in the evaluation of adrenal function. The intravenous injection of a pharmacological dose(250 pg) of ACTH has been used as a standard test in the initial assessment of adrenal function. So we low dose ACTH to evaluate the adrenal function and compare the result of high dose ACTH. METHOD: Basal serum cortisol sampling was done at 2:00 p.m.. And after 1 pg ACTH iv bolus injection, cortisol sampling was done at 20, 30, 45 and 60 min respectively. On the next day same procedure was repeated at same time, but 249 mg ACTH was given instead of the low dose. Normal adrenal function was diagnosed with the criteria of stimulated serum cortisol concentration over 20 mg/dL. Total 65 patients took part in this study. Three hypopituitarism patients and one Addisons disease were included. Sixty-one patients had the history of glucocorticoid ingestion or had physical findings of cushingoid features with symptoms suggest the adrenal insufficiency. RESULTS: Sixteen patients showed normal response to both low dose and high dose ACTH. Thirty-six patients were not stimulated to both low dose and high dose ACTH. The remaining thirteen patients revealed normal response to high dose ACTH, but not to low dose ACTH. CONCLUSION: It appears that low dose ACTH stimulation test is more sensitive and specific than high dose ACTH and is capable of revealing mild adrenal insufficiency.