Crisis adrenal neonatal secundaria a hipoplasia hipofisaria / Neonatal Adrenal Crisis Secondary to Pituitary Hypoplasia

Introducción: La insuficiencia adrenal hipotálamo hipofisaria usualmente se manifiesta secundaria a tumores y, cuando resulta congénita se asocia, con frecuencia, con otras deficiencias hormonales. La crisis adrenal suele presentarse en su debut y puede resultar potencialmente mortal. Objetivo: Examinar el caso de una paciente con insuficiencia adrenal central que debutó con una crisis adrenal congénita. Presentación del caso: Recién nacida a término, padres no consanguíneos, hospitalizada a los 9 días de vida por clínica de una semana con múltiples episodios eméticos y apnea. Ingresó con deshidratación severa, hipotensa y estuporosa. Además, se encontró acidosis metabólica severa, hipoglucemia persistente, hiponatremia e insuficiencia prerrenal. Ante la no mejoría de su estado hemodinámico, a pesar del uso de cristaloides y vasopresores, finalmente mejoró con la administración de dosis altas de hidrocortisona. El diagnóstico de deficiencia de cortisol de origen central se realizó con un test dinámico de insulina y la resonancia magnética nuclear hipofisaria. Conclusiones: La crisis adrenal se debe tener presente como diagnóstico diferencial en episodios agudos con inestabilidad hemodinámica persistente e hipoglucemia de difícil manejo. Adicionalmente, hay que considerar que existen otras causas menos comunes de insuficiencia adrenal en neonatos como la hipoplasia hipofisaria(AU)

Introduction: Hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal insufficiency usually manifests secondary to tumors and, when congenital, is often associated with other hormonal deficiencies. Adrenal crisis usually occurs at its onset and can be life threatening. Objective: To review the case of a patient with central adrenal insufficiency who had an onset with a congenital adrenal crisis. Case presentation: Term newborn, non-consanguineous parents, hospitalized at 9 days of life for a week-long clinical presentation with multiple emetic episodes and apnea. She was admitted with severe dehydration, hypotensive and stuporous. In addition, severe metabolic acidosis, persistent hypoglycemia, hyponatremia and prerenal failure were found. Given the lack of improvement of her hemodynamic status, despite the use of crystalloids and vasopressors, she finally improved with the administration of high doses of hydrocortisone. The diagnosis of cortisol deficiency of central origin was made with a dynamic insulin test and pituitary nuclear magnetic resonance imaging. Conclusions: Adrenal crisis should be kept in mind as a differential diagnosis in acute episodes with persistent hemodynamic instability and difficult-to-manage hypoglycemia. Additionally, other less common causes of adrenal insufficiency in neonates, such as pituitary hypoplasia, should be considered(AU)

Central adrenal insufficiency: who, when, and how? From the evidence to the controversies - an exploratory review

ABSTRACT Central adrenal insufficiency (CAI) is a life-threatening disorder. This occurs when ACTH production is insufficient, leading to low cortisol levels. Since corticosteroids are crucial to many metabolic responses under organic stress and inflammatory conditions, CAI recognition and prompt treatment are vital. However, the diagnosis of CAI is challenging. This is not only because its clinical presentation is usually oligosymptomatic, but also because the CAI laboratory investigation presents many pitfalls. Thus, the clarification of when to use each test could be helpful in many contexts. The CAI challenge is also involved in treatment: Several formulations of synthetic steroids exist, followed by the lack of a biomarker for glucocorticoid replacement. This review aims to access all available literature to synthesize important topics about who should investigate CAI, when it should be suspected, and how CAI must be treated.

Diagnostic Value of 1microgram Rapid ACTH Stimulation Test According to the Timing of Sampling of Serum Cortisol in Patients with Suspected Central Adrenal Insufficiency / 대한내분비학회지

BACKGROUND: Traditional testing of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function has essentially relied upon the insulin tolerance test or the metyrapone test(both tests are not only uncomfortable, but are also dangerous). The standard ACTH stimulation test uses an extremely supra-physiologic amount(250f microgram) of ACTH to evaluate a physiological response, which may result in a false normal response. The 1microgram rapid ACTH stimulation test is more physiological and more sensitive than the standard test, but there exist much controversy about when the serum cortisol should be measured or what the most appropriate cut-off point is for normality or whether the 1microgram ACTH commercial solution is needed. The aims of this study were to investigate 1) whether 1microgram of ACTH is an appropriate amount to stimulate the adrenal gland of patients that have suspected central adrenal insufficiency compared with insulin tolerance test(ITT) and 2) the diagnostic value of the 1microgram rapid ACTH stimulation test according to timing of sampling of serum cortisol. METHODS: In order to evaluate the dose-response relationship between ACTH and cortisol, we performed the ITT in 77 patients with suspected central adrenal insufficiency with serial measurements of serum cortisol and plasma ACTH. We drew the blood samples in 10 min intervals between 10 and 60 min after the administration of 1microgram ACTH in 39 patients with central adrenal insufficiency and in 38 pituitary control patients with pituitary. ITT was used to confirm the diseases for the patients of central adrenal insufficiency, but for pituitary control patients, the ITT indicated normality in the patients. Also, all subjects underwent the 250microgram rapid ACTH stimulation test, and we compared the diagnostic value of the 1microgram ACTH stimulation test with the 250microgram test. RESULTS: 1) The plasma ACTH level after the 1microgram ACTH stimulation test, even if it was be assumed as approximately 300pg/mL, was expected to be sufficient enough to stimulate the adrenal cortex normally(serum cortisol levels >18microgram/dL) compared to the plasma ACTH level in the ITT. 2) The sensitivity and specificity of the 1microgram rapid ACTH stimulation test was highest with 92.3% and 84.2%, respectively, when serum cortisol levels were measured at 20, 30, and 40 min after the ACTH injection. The 1microgram rapid ACTH stimulation test was more sensitive than the 250microgram ACTH test(sensitivity: 92.3%, specificity: 71.8%). CONCLUSION: The 1microgram rapid ACTH stimulation test was more sensitive test in patients with suspected central adrenal insufficiency, and blood samples for cortisol levels should be drawn at 20, 30, and 40 min after ACTH administration.