Low-dose adrenocorticotropin test in patients with the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
Braz. j. infect. dis
; 5(2): 53-59, Apr. 2001. ilus, tab
Article
en En
| LILACS
| ID: lil-301184
Biblioteca responsable:
BR11.1
ABSTRACT
Adrenocortical insufficiency is a serious complication of AIDS. Usually, integrity of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in AIDS patients is assessed by measuring basal cortisol levels and cortisol response to 250 µg of ACTH. Recent studies suggest that a lower ACTH dose increases the sensitivity of the procedure. In the present study, we investigated the prevalence of adrenal hypofunction in AIDS patients using a low-dose ACTH test (1 µg), evaluated the clinical characteristics that might suggeest this diagnosis, and the diseases and/or drugs that could be associated with it. We prospectively evaluated 63 very ill AIDS patients and 16 normal controls. A standard examination assessed the presence of signs and symptoms of adrenal insufficiency. Blood samples were colleted before and 30 and 40 minutes after an injection of 1 µg 1-24 ACTH. No opportunistic disease, signs, symptoms or drugs were associated with an abnormal cortisol response to ACTH. The lowest stimulated cortisol level in the contol group was 18.5 µg/dL; cortisol level (greather or equal) 18 µg/dL were taken to indicate a normal HPA axis. Test results revealed that 12/63 AIDS patients (19 percent) had an abnormal HPA axis. With these data in mind, we suggest a prospective adrenal function evaluation of all severely ill AIDS patients.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
LILACS
Asunto principal:
Hidrocortisona
/
Síndrome de Inmunodeficiencia Adquirida
/
Insuficiencia Suprarrenal
/
Hormona Adrenocorticotrópica
/
Sistema Hipotálamo-Hipofisario
Tipo de estudio:
Observational_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Braz. j. infect. dis
Asunto de la revista:
DOENCAS TRANSMISSIVEIS
Año:
2001
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Brasil
Pais de publicación:
BR
/
BRASIL
/
BRASILE
/
BRAZIL
/
BRESIL