RESUMO
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The incidence of relative adrenal insufficiency (RAI) in patients with septic shock is high and has a significant impact on survival. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a random cortisol concentration < 25 mg/dL was as good as a low dose (1 mg) corticotrophin stimulation test in the diagnosis of RAI in patients with septic shock as assessed by the hemodynamic response to hydrocortisone. METHODS: Patients were randomized to a single cortisol determination or to a low dose corticotrophin stimulation test. After blood collection to cortisol determinations, hydrocortisone (100 mg every 8 hrs) was administered for all patients in the first 36 hours. RAI was defined by a random cortisol concentration < 25 mg/dL or a D cortisol concentration < 9 mg/dL in the corticotrophin test. RESULTS: Sixty patients (G1 = 30; G2 = 30) were included in the analysis and were comparable regarding to demographic data, nosologies and disease severity. The time to norepinephrin withdrawal in group 1 patients with RAI diagnostic criteria was not different from the patients with cortisol > 25 mg/dL. In group 2 patients with D cortisol < 9 mg/dL had a shorter time of norepinephrin infusion (3 days) compared to patients with D cortisol > 9 (6 days). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that 1 mg corticotrophin test is better than a random cortisol determination < 25 mg/dL to the diagnosis of relative adrenal insufficiency in septic shock patients.
RESUMO
JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A incidência de insuficiência adrenal relativa (IAR) no paciente com choque séptico é elevada e tem impacto significativo na sobrevida. O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar se a dosagem única do cortisol < 25 mg/dL é tão eficiente quanto o teste da corticotropina com 1 mg para o diagnóstico de IAR em pacientes com choque séptico, avaliando a resposta hemodinâmica à administração de hidrocortisona. MÉTODO: Os pacientes foram aleatorizados para dosagem única do cortisol ou teste da corticotropina com 1 mg. Após a coleta de sangue para dosagem do cortisol, os pacientes passaram a receber 100 mg de hidrocortisona, por via venosa a cada 8 horas, durante 36 horas. IAR foi definida por uma dosagem única do cortisol < 25 mg/dL ou um D do cortisol < 9 mg/dL, após o teste da corticotropina. RESULTADOS: Sessenta pacientes (G1 = 30; G2 = 30) foram incluídos na análise e mostraram-se comparáveis com relação aos dados demográficos, nosologias e gravidade. O tempo de uso de noradrenalina entre os pacientes do grupo 1 com critério diagnóstico para IAR não diferiu daquele dos pacientes com cortisol > 25 mg/dL. No grupo 2, os pacientes com D cortisol < 9 mg/dL tiveram tempo de infusão de noradrenalina menor (3 dias) comparado aos pacientes com D cortisol > 9 mg/dL (6 dias). CONCLUSÕES: O teste da corticotropina com 1 mg foi mais eficiente que a dosagem única do cortisol plasmático < 25 mg/dL, para o diagnóstico da insuficiência adrenal relativa no paciente com choque séptico.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The incidence of relative adrenal insufficiency (RAI) in patients with septic shock is high and has a significant impact on survival. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a random cortisol concentration < 25 mg/dL was as good as a low dose (1 mg) corticotrophin stimulation test in the diagnosis of RAI in patients with septic shock as assessed by the hemodynamic response to hydrocortisone. METHODS: Patients were randomized to a single cortisol determination or to a low dose corticotrophin stimulation test. After blood collection to cortisol determinations, hydrocortisone (100 mg every 8 hrs) was administered for all patients in the first 36 hours. RAI was defined by a random cortisol concentration < 25 mg/dL or a D cortisol concentration < 9 mg/dL in the corticotrophin test. RESULTS: Sixty patients (G1 = 30; G2 = 30) were included in the analysis and were comparable regarding to demographic data, nosologies and disease severity. The time to norepinephrin withdrawal in group 1 patients with RAI diagnostic criteria was not different from the patients with cortisol > 25 mg/dL. In group 2 patients with D cortisol < 9 mg/dL had a shorter time of norepinephrin infusion (3 days) compared to patients with D cortisol > 9 (6 days). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that 1 mg corticotrophin test is better than a random cortisol determination < 25 mg/dL to the diagnosis of relative adrenal insufficiency in septic shock patients.