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Kalafateli M, Aggeletopoulou I, Triantos C. Adrenal insufficiency in liver diseases - pathophysiology and underlying mechanisms. Rev Endocr Metab Disord 2024:10.1007/s11154-024-09874-0. [PMID: 38305832 DOI: 10.1007/s11154-024-09874-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Relative adrenal insufficiency (RAI) is common in critically ill patients with cirrhosis, but it has been also documented in non-critically ill patients. Its pathophysiology is complex and not well understood yet. In this review, we aimed to present potential mechanisms and causal pathways implicated in the pathogenesis of RAI in cirrhosis. There is accumulating evidence supporting a suboptimal baseline adrenal function in cirrhosis mainly due to decreased cortisol synthesis and metabolism rates from the adrenal gland. Apart from this peripheral impairment, more recent studies suggest that there is a greater defect in the central stimulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis (hypothalamus/pituitary gland). Pro-inflammatory mediators, which are elevated in cirrhosis, have been also implicated through suppression of the HPA axis, decrease in cortisol synthesis and tissue glucocorticoid resistance. All abovementioned support the hepatoadrenal syndrome hypothesis that during episodes of acute decompensation there is suboptimal adrenocortical response that leads to worse outcomes. In conclusion, the complex pathophysiology of adrenal dysfunction in cirrhosis has not been fully elucidated yet and further research is needed in order to better understand this rather common entity in cirrhosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Kalafateli
- Department of Gastroenterology, General Hospital of Patras, 26332, Patras, Greece
| | - Ioanna Aggeletopoulou
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Patras, 26504, Patras, Greece
- Laboratory of Immunohematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Patras, 26504, Patras, Greece
| | - Christos Triantos
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Patras, 26504, Patras, Greece.
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Ekawaravong S, Treepongkaruna S, Poomthavorn P, Pongratanakul S, Khlairit P, Chanprasertyothin S, Mahachoklertwattana P. Overdiagnosis of adrenal insufficiency in children with biliary atresia. Clin Pediatr Endocrinol 2023; 32:147-154. [PMID: 37362167 PMCID: PMC10288293 DOI: 10.1297/cpe.2022-0083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Serum cortisol mainly binds to the cortisol-binding globulin (CBG). Children with biliary atresia (BA) may have low serum CBG levels; thus, low serum total cortisol (TC) levels and adrenal insufficiency (AI) may be overdiagnosed. This study aimed to assess adrenal function in children with BA. All the patients underwent adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation tests. Plasma ACTH, serum TC, and CBG levels were measured at baseline, with additional TC measurements at 30 and 60 min during testing. Free cortisol (FC) index (FCI) and calculated FC (cFC) were also calculated. AI was defined as peak TC <500 nmol/L (<18 μg/dL), peak FCI <12 nmol/mg, or peak cFC <33 nmol/L (<1.2 μg/dL). This study enrolled 71 children with BA. The Median (IQR) age of the patients was 5.5 (1.7-11.4) years. Twenty-five (35%) patients were diagnosed with AI based on the peak TC. In the AI group, the median serum CBG level was significantly lower than that in the non-AI group (481 vs. 533 nmol/L, p = 0.03). Only eight patients (11%) met all three AI criteria (six secondary AI and two primary AI). In conclusion, low serum CBG levels contribute to reduced peak TC and, consequently, overdiagnosing AI. Peak FCI and cFC could help reduce the overdiagnosis of AI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suparat Ekawaravong
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Suporn Treepongkaruna
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Preamrudee Poomthavorn
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Sarunyu Pongratanakul
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Patcharin Khlairit
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Pat Mahachoklertwattana
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
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Peters S, Bezinover D, Nowak K, Saner FH. Management of an Anhepatic Patient: The Ultimate Challenge for an Intensive Care Physician. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth 2022; 36:3187-3192. [PMID: 35393240 DOI: 10.1053/j.jvca.2022.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Revised: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sonja Peters
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, Medical Center University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Dmitri Bezinover
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA
| | - Knut Nowak
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, Medical Center University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Fuat H Saner
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, Medical Center University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
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Bernal W, Karvellas C, Saliba F, Saner FH, Meersseman P. Intensive care management of acute-on-chronic liver failure. J Hepatol 2021; 75 Suppl 1:S163-S177. [PMID: 34039487 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2020.10.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The syndrome of acute-on-chronic liver failure combines deterioration of liver function in a patient with chronic liver disease, with the development of extrahepatic organ failure and high short-term mortality. Its successful management demands a rapid and coherent response to the development of dysfunction and failure of multiple organ systems in an intensive care unit setting. This response recognises the features that distinguish it from other critical illness and addresses the complex interplay between the precipitating insult, the many organ systems involved and the disordered physiology of underlying chronic liver disease. An evidence base is building to support the approaches currently adopted and outcomes for patients with this condition are improving, but mortality remains unacceptably high. Herein, we review practical considerations in critical care management, as well as discussing key knowledge gaps and areas of controversy that require further focussed research.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Bernal
- Liver Intensive Therapy Unit, Institute of Liver Studies, Kings College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London SE5 9RS, United Kingdom.
| | - Constantine Karvellas
- Division of Gastroenterology (Liver Unit), Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Alberta, 1-40 Zeidler Ledcor Building, Edmonton, Alberta T6G-2X8, Canada
| | - Faouzi Saliba
- AP-HP Hôpital Paul Brousse, Centre Hépato-Biliaire, Université Paris SACLAY, INSERM Unit 1193, Villejuif, France
| | - Fuat H Saner
- Klinik für Allgemein-, Viszeral- und Transplantationschirurgie Universitätsklinikum Essen Hufelandstr. 55 45 147, Essen, Germany
| | - Philippe Meersseman
- Medical Intensive Care Unit, Department of General Internal Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium
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Theocharidou E, Giouleme O, Anastasiadis S, Markopoulou A, Pagourelias E, Vassiliadis T, Fotoglidis A, Agorastou P, Slavakis A, Balaska A, Kouskoura MG, Gossios TD, Karagiannis A, Mantzoros CS. Free Cortisol Is a More Accurate Marker for Adrenal Function and Does Not Correlate with Renal Function in Cirrhosis. Dig Dis Sci 2019; 64:1686-1694. [PMID: 30659471 DOI: 10.1007/s10620-019-5460-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2018] [Accepted: 01/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The accuracy of diagnosis and clinical implications of the hepatoadrenal syndrome, as currently diagnosed using total cortisol, remain to be validated. AIM The aim of this study was to assess adrenal function using free cortisol in stable cirrhosis and study the potential implications of any abnormalities for renal and/or cardiac function. METHODS Sixty-one stable consecutively enrolled patients with cirrhosis underwent assessment of adrenal function using the low-dose short Synacthen test, renal function by 51Cr-EDTA glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and cardiac function by two-dimensional echocardiography. RESULTS Eleven patients (18%) had total peak cortisol (PC) < 500 nmol/L, but no patient had free PC < 33 nmol/L indicating that diagnosis of AI using total cortisol is not confirmed using free cortisol. Free cortisol did not correlate with GFR or parameters of cardiac function. Patients with higher Child-Pugh class had progressively lower free cortisol. Patients with low GFR < 60 mL/min (N = 22) had more frequently grade II-III diastolic dysfunction (66.7% vs. 17.6%; p = 0.005) and had higher Child-Pugh and MELD score compared to those with normal GFR. CONCLUSIONS Diagnosis of AI using total cortisol is not confirmed using free cortisol and is thus considered unreliable in cirrhosis. Free cortisol is not associated with renal or cardiac dysfunction. Lower free cortisol in more advanced stages of liver disease might be secondary to decreased synthesis due to lower cholesterol levels. Irrespective of free cortisol, parameters of cardiac dysfunction are associated with renal impairment supporting the cardio-renal hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Olga Giouleme
- 2nd Propaedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Hippokration General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloníki, Greece
| | - Sotirios Anastasiadis
- 2nd Propaedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Hippokration General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloníki, Greece
| | - Aikaterini Markopoulou
- School of Pharmacy, Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloníki, Greece
| | - Efstathios Pagourelias
- 3rd Department of Cardiology, Hippokration General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloníki, Greece
| | - Themistoklis Vassiliadis
- 3rd Department of Internal Medicine, Papageorgiou General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloníki, Greece
| | - Athanasios Fotoglidis
- 3rd Department of Cardiology, Hippokration General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloníki, Greece
| | - Polyxeni Agorastou
- 2nd Propaedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Hippokration General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloníki, Greece
| | - Aristeidis Slavakis
- Department of Biochemistry, Hippokration General Hospital, Thessaloníki, Greece
| | - Aikaterini Balaska
- Laboratory of the 2nd Propaedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Hippokration General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloníki, Greece
| | - Maria G Kouskoura
- School of Pharmacy, Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloníki, Greece
| | - Thomas D Gossios
- 2nd Propaedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Hippokration General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloníki, Greece
| | - Asterios Karagiannis
- 2nd Propaedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Hippokration General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloníki, Greece
| | - Christos S Mantzoros
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
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Albert L, Profitós J, Sánchez-Delgado J, Capel I, González-Clemente JM, Subías D, Cano A, Berlanga E, Espinal A, Hurtado M, Pareja R, Rigla M, Dalmau B, Vergara M, Miquel M, Casas M, Giménez-Palop O. Salivary Cortisol Determination in ACTH Stimulation Test to Diagnose Adrenal Insufficiency in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis. Int J Endocrinol 2019; 2019:7251010. [PMID: 31320899 PMCID: PMC6609341 DOI: 10.1155/2019/7251010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2019] [Revised: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 05/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The prevalence of adrenal insufficiency (AI) in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis is unknown. Because these patients have lower levels of cortisol-binding carrier proteins, their total serum cortisol (TSC) correlates poorly with free serum cortisol (FC). Salivary cortisol (SaC) correlates better with FC. We aimed to establish SaC thresholds for AI for the 250 μg intravenous ACTH test and to estimate the prevalence of AI in noncritically ill cirrhotic patients. METHODS We included 39 patients with decompensated cirrhosis, 39 patients with known AI, and 45 healthy volunteers. After subjects fasted ≥8 hours, serum and saliva samples were collected for determinations of TSC and SaC at baseline 0'(T0) and at 30-minute intervals after intravenous administration of 250 μg ACTH [30'(T30), 60'(T60), and 90'(T90)]. RESULTS Based on the findings in healthy subjects and patients with known AI, we defined AI in cirrhotic patients as SaC-T0< 0.08 μg/dL (2.2 nmol/L), SaC-T60 < 1.43 μg/dl (39.5 nmol/L), or ΔSaC<1 μg/dl (27.6 nmol/L). We compared AI determination in cirrhotic patients with the ACTH test using these SaC thresholds versus established TSC thresholds (TSC-T0< 9 μg/dl [248 nmol/L], TSC-T60 < 18 μg/dl [497 nmol/L], or ΔTSC<9 μg/dl [248 nmol/L]). SaC correlated well with TSC. The prevalence of AI in cirrhotic patients was higher when determined by TSC (48.7%) than by SaC (30.8%); however, this difference did not reach statistical significance. AI was associated with sex, cirrhosis etiology, and Child-Pugh classification. CONCLUSIONS Measuring SaC was more accurate than TSC in the ACTH stimulation test. Measuring TSC overestimated the prevalence of AI in noncritically ill cirrhotic patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Albert
- Endocrinology Department, Parc Taulí University Hospital, Institut d'Investigacio i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Sabadell, Spain
| | - Joaquím Profitós
- Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases Department, Parc Tauli University Hospital, Institut d'Investigacio i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Sabadell, Spain
| | - Jordi Sánchez-Delgado
- Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases Department, Parc Tauli University Hospital, Institut d'Investigacio i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Sabadell, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain
| | - Ismael Capel
- Endocrinology Department, Parc Taulí University Hospital, Institut d'Investigacio i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Sabadell, Spain
| | - José Miguel González-Clemente
- Endocrinology Department, Parc Taulí University Hospital, Institut d'Investigacio i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Sabadell, Spain
| | - David Subías
- Endocrinology Department, Parc Taulí University Hospital, Institut d'Investigacio i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Sabadell, Spain
| | - Albert Cano
- Endocrinology Department, Parc Taulí University Hospital, Institut d'Investigacio i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Sabadell, Spain
| | - Eugenio Berlanga
- Clinical Laboratory Department, Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT, Parc Taulí University Hospital, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Sabadell, Spain
| | - Anna Espinal
- Servei d'Estadística Aplicada, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Marta Hurtado
- Endocrinology Department, Parc Taulí University Hospital, Institut d'Investigacio i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Sabadell, Spain
| | - Rocío Pareja
- Endocrinology Department, Parc Taulí University Hospital, Institut d'Investigacio i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Sabadell, Spain
| | - Mercedes Rigla
- Endocrinology Department, Parc Taulí University Hospital, Institut d'Investigacio i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Sabadell, Spain
| | - Blai Dalmau
- Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases Department, Parc Tauli University Hospital, Institut d'Investigacio i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Sabadell, Spain
| | - Mercedes Vergara
- Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases Department, Parc Tauli University Hospital, Institut d'Investigacio i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Sabadell, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain
| | - Mireia Miquel
- Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases Department, Parc Tauli University Hospital, Institut d'Investigacio i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Sabadell, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain
| | - Meritxell Casas
- Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases Department, Parc Tauli University Hospital, Institut d'Investigacio i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Sabadell, Spain
| | - Olga Giménez-Palop
- Endocrinology Department, Parc Taulí University Hospital, Institut d'Investigacio i Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Sabadell, Spain
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Kumar M, Gupta GK, Wanjari SJ, Tak V, Ameta M, Nijhawan S. Relative Adrenal Insufficiency in Patients with Alcoholic Hepatitis. J Clin Exp Hepatol 2019; 9:215-220. [PMID: 31024204 PMCID: PMC6477128 DOI: 10.1016/j.jceh.2018.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS Alcoholic hepatitis (AH) is an acute hepatic inflammation associated with high morbidity and mortality. Treatment with steroids is known to decrease short-term mortality in severe AH patients. Hence, we hypothesize that adrenal insufficiency can be associated with severe AH and affects prognosis. The aim of this study was (1) to evaluate relative adrenal insufficiency (RAI) in patients with AH and (2) to Compare RAI with the severity of AH. METHODS Newly diagnosed cases of AH hospitalized in SMS Medical College and Hospital, Department of Gastroenterology were, enrolled. All patients of AH were classified as mild and severe AH on the basis of Maddrey discriminant function (DF). After baseline serum cortisol, 25 IU ACTH (Adreno Corticotrophic Hormone) was injected intramuscularly and blood sample was collected after 1 h and assessed for serum cortisol. RAI was defined as <7 μg increase in the cortisol level from baseline. RAI was compared with severity of AH. RESULTS Of 120 patients of AH, 58 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria, in which 48 patients were diagnosed as severe AH and 10 patients were diagnosed as mild AH. In patients with severe AH, the baseline mean serum cortisol level was significantly high as compared with mild AH; 26 patients (54.16 %) of 48 patients with severe AH showed RAI (P ≤ 0.001).Whereas in patients with mild AH, none of patients showed RAI. RAI also showed negative correlation with DF. There was no difference in RAI with respect to acute kidney injury (AKI). CONCLUSION RAI is a common entity in patients with severe AH, and it is related with the severity of disease.
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Key Words
- ACTH, Adreno Corticotrophic Hormone
- AH, Alcoholic Hepatitis
- AI, Adrenal Insuffiency
- AKI, Acute Kidney Injury
- ALD, Alcoholic Liver Disease
- ALT, Alanine Aminotranferase
- AST, Aspartate Aminotransferase
- CIRCI (Critical Illness Related Corticosteroid Insufficiency)
- CIRCI, Critical Illness Related Corticosteroid Insufficiency
- DF, Discriminant Function
- HPA, Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal
- INR, International Normalised Ratio
- MELD, Model for End-stage Liver Disease
- PT, Prothrombin Time
- RAI, Relative Adrenal Insuffiency
- TLC, Total Leucocyte Count
- alcoholic hepatitis
- relative adrenal insufficiency
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gaurav K. Gupta
- Address for correspondence: Gaurav Kumar Gupta, MD, DM. Department of Gastroenterology, SMS Medical College & Hospital, Jaipur, India. Tel.: +91 9214027938.
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An Analysis of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Functions in Cirrhotic Rats in Response to Surgical Stress. Surg Res Pract 2018; 2018:7606304. [PMID: 30050969 PMCID: PMC6046119 DOI: 10.1155/2018/7606304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2017] [Revised: 05/05/2018] [Accepted: 05/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The activation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis through severe diseases and stress courses leads to a rise in circulatory cortisol for an adequate response to stress. This axis is one of the important systems that involve in neuroendocrine response to the surgical stress. Hepatoadrenal syndrome that is a manifestation of adrenal insufficiency (AI) in the course of liver disease is described as insufficient production of steroid hormones mainly cortisol due to primary dysfunction of the adrenal gland or secondary malfunction of the HPA axis to provoke the adrenal gland leading to severe illness and increased mortality. Through this evidence, we presented this question as to whether cirrhotic patients have a greater mortality rate than other patients after surgery and if the HPA axis is partly responsible for this phenomenon. Also how the adrenal gland functions during surgery in cirrhotic rats. We conducted this study to assess the effect of cirrhosis on the HPA axis through surgery in cirrhotic rats by evaluating the changes in serum corticosterone level and blood sugar before, immediately, and 30 minutes after surgery. Method This study was performed in the animal lab approved by the Ethics Committee of Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2014, on 25 male Wistar rats. Thioacetamide was used for induction of cirrhosis in rats with new method of monitoring weekly changes of rats' weight which had 100% success in procedure and reduction in mortality rate. Laparotomy was performed on all of the rats during 9–12 in the morning within 10–15 minutes. Laparotomy was chosen as surgical stress because of its simplicity and feasibility. Three blood samples were obtained from each rat immediately after inducing anesthesia, immediately after the conclusion of surgery, and 30 minutes after surgery. The plasma concentration of corticosterone was measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test. P value of 0.05 or less was considered as statistical significance. Result Cirrhotic rat group consisted of 15 rats and control group consisted of 10 rats. There was a significant difference in the mean level of corticosterone and blood sugar between the cirrhotic rat group and control group in the 3 time levels (P=0.044/P < 0.001). Pairwise comparison of mean corticosterone and blood sugar levels between case (mean: 249.359 ± 3.90) and control (mean: 262.40 ± 4.69) showed a significant difference (P=0.04, 95% CI = 0.30–25.79/P < 0.001, 95% CI = 129.62–233.96). Unlike the control group, the level of serum corticosterone was compared in the cirrhotic rat group (group 1) before, immediately, and 30 minutes after surgery, which showed a significant difference in our study (P value = 0.005). However, this result was also significant in comparing the blood sugar in 3 time levels of surgery in the control group (P value < 0.001) but not in the cirrhotic rat group (P value = 0.233). Conclusion There was a significant rise in corticosterone levels during 3 time levels of surgery in cirrhotic rats; nevertheless, this elevation was significantly lower than the control group. Also the mean level of blood sugar was higher in the control group than in cirrhotic rats. However, this difference was significant in comparison with the same times of surgery between the two groups. These results approximately can substantiate our hypothesis that AI in the field of cirrhosis would also affect the response of HPA axis to stress during and after surgery that can be concomitant with higher rate of cardiovascular unsteadiness incidences, deteriorating the severity of illness and rise in mortality rate.
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Park SH, Joo MS, Kim BH, Yoo HN, Kim SE, Kim JB, Jang MK, Kim DJ, Lee MS. Clinical characteristics and prevalence of adrenal insufficiency in hemodynamically stable patients with cirrhosis. Medicine (Baltimore) 2018; 97:e11046. [PMID: 29952944 PMCID: PMC6039635 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000011046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
It is well known that adrenal insufficiency is common in septic shock or hemodynamically unstable patients. But, there is as yet no sufficient clinically significant data about the exact prevalence or differences in the cause of cirrhosis with adrenal insufficiency. To investigate adrenal insufficiency prevalence in hemodynamically stable patients with cirrhosis and determine differences based on cirrhosis severity or etiology.From July 2011 to December 2012, 69 hemodynamically stable patients with cirrhosis without infection admitted at Hallym University Medical Center were enrolled. Adrenal insufficiency was defined as a peak cortisol level < 18 μg/dL, 30 or 60 minutes after 250 μg Synacthen injection.The study included 55 male patients (79.7%), and the mean age was 57.9 ± 12.9 years. Cirrhosis etiology was alcohol consumption, HBV, HCV, both viral and alcohol related, and cryptogenic in 49, 15, 7, 11, 9 patients, respectively. Adrenal insufficiency occurred in 24 patients (34.8%). No differences were found in age, sex, mean arterial pressure, heart rate, HDL, cirrhosis etiology, degree of alcohol consumption, encephalopathy, variceal bleeding history, or hepatocellular carcinoma between patients with or without adrenal insufficiency. Serum albumin level was lower (P < .05), and INR was higher (P < .05) in patients with than in those without adrenal insufficiency. However, multivariate analysis revealed no independent adrenal insufficiency predictor. Significant negative correlations were found between Child-Pugh score and peak cortisol levels (γ=-0.365, P = .008).Adrenal insufficiency was frequent even in hemodynamically stable patients with cirrhosis and tended to be associated with only liver disease severity, being unrelated to cirrhosis etiology.
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de Araujo Neto JM, Coelho HSM, Chindamo MC, Rezende GFM, Nunes Pannain VL, Bottino AMCF, Bruzzi Porto LF, Luiz RR, Villela-Nogueira CA, Perez RM. Lower levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate are associated with more advanced liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C. J Viral Hepat 2018; 25:254-261. [PMID: 29091323 DOI: 10.1111/jvh.12812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2017] [Accepted: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
Chronic infection with the hepatitis C virus induces liver fibrosis, but it is unknown why some patients progress to advanced fibrosis while others remain with mild disease. Recently, an inverse association between serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S) and liver fibrosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease was described, and it was postulated that dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) has antifibrotic effects. Our aim was to compare serum DHEA-S levels with liver fibrosis in hepatitis C patients. We collected serum samples from hepatitis C patients at the same day they underwent a liver biopsy. S-DHEA was compared to different stages of fibrosis. Binary logistic regression models were applied to evaluate independent variables associated to fibrosis. We included 287 patients (43.9% male). According to fibrosis stages 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4, median serum DHEA-S levels were 103 (26-462), 73 (5-391), 46 (4-425), 35 (6-292) and 28 (2-115) μg/dL, respectively (P < .001). Median serum DHEA-S levels were 74 (5-462) vs 36 (2-425) μg/dL for mild (F0-1) vs significant (F2-4) fibrosis, respectively (P < .001). Median serum DHEA-S levels were 64 (4-462) vs 31 (2-292) μg/dL for non advanced (F0-2) vs advanced fibrosis (F3-4), respectively (P < .001). The same association was found when the subgroup of HCV patients with and without steatosis or steatohepatitis was analysed. The association between lower DHEA-S levels and advanced fibrosis was independent of age, gender, diabetes mellitus, obesity and steatosis. Lower circulating DHEA-S levels are associated with more advanced stages of liver fibrosis in hepatitis C patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M de Araujo Neto
- Internal Medicine Department, Hepatology Division, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - H S M Coelho
- Internal Medicine Department, Hepatology Division, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - M C Chindamo
- Internal Medicine Department, Hepatology Division, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - G F M Rezende
- Internal Medicine Department, Hepatology Division, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - V L Nunes Pannain
- Pathology Department, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - A M C F Bottino
- Pathology Department, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - L F Bruzzi Porto
- D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - R R Luiz
- Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Public Health institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - C A Villela-Nogueira
- Internal Medicine Department, Hepatology Division, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - R M Perez
- Internal Medicine Department, Hepatology Division, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Gastroenterology Department, University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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11
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Tsai MH, Huang HC, Peng YS, Chen YC, Tian YC, Yang CW, Lien JM, Fang JT, Wu CS, Hsieh SY, Lee FY. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate/cortisol ratio in cirrhotic patients with septic shock: another sign of hepatoadrenal syndrome? Crit Care 2017; 21:214. [PMID: 28810889 PMCID: PMC5557480 DOI: 10.1186/s13054-017-1768-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2017] [Accepted: 06/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cirrhotic patients are susceptible to sepsis and critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency (CIRCI). Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) is a corticotropin-dependent adrenal androgen, which has immunostimulating and antiglucocorticoid effects. Considering the synchronized synthesis of cortisol and DHEAS and their opposing effects to each other, investigators have proposed measuring these two hormones as a ratio. Severe sepsis has been associated with low DHEAS, especially relative to high cortisol. Despite growing interest in the role of adrenal androgen replacement in critical illness, there have been no data about DHEAS and the DHEAS/cortisol ratio in patients with liver cirrhosis. We studied whether low concentrations of DHEAS and decreased DHEAS/cortisol ratio are associated with poor outcome in patients with liver cirrhosis and septic shock. METHODS We recruited 46 cirrhotic patients with septic shock, and 46 noncirrhotic counterparts matched by age and sex. We evaluated adrenal function using the short corticotropin stimulation test and analyzed the relation between DHEAS and cortisol. RESULTS While the nonsurvivors in the cirrhotic group had significantly lower baseline DHEAS, lower baseline DHEAS/cortisol ratio, and reduced increments of both DHEAS and cortisol upon corticotropin stimulation, the survivors had lower baseline cortisol. Cirrhotic patients with lower DHEAS/cortisol ratio (<1.50) had higher levels of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha, higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores, and higher rates of CIRCI and hospital mortality. Using the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve, both DHEAS and the DHEAS/cortisol ratio demonstrated a good discriminative power for predicting hospital survival (AUROC 0.807 and 0.925 respectively). The cirrhotic group had lower DHEAS and DHEAS/cortisol ratio but higher rates of CIRCI and hospital mortality, compared to the noncirrhotic group. CONCLUSIONS There is dissociation between cortisol (increased) and DHEAS (decreased) in those cirrhotic patients who succumb to septic shock. Low DHEAS/cortisol ratios are associated with more severe diseases, inflammation, and CIRCI and can serve as a prognostic marker. More investigations are needed to evaluate the role of adrenal androgen in this clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Hung Tsai
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Hui-Chun Huang
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Veteran General Hospital, No. 201, Section 2, Shih-Pai Road, Taipei, 11217 Taiwan
- Faculty of Medicine, Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
- Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veteran General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yun-Shing Peng
- Division of Endocrinology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chia-Yi, Taiwan
- Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Yung-Chang Chen
- Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Division of Critical Care Nephrology, Kidney Institute, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Chung Tian
- Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Division of Critical Care Nephrology, Kidney Institute, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Wei Yang
- Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Division of Critical Care Nephrology, Kidney Institute, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jau-Min Lien
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Ji-Tseng Fang
- Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Division of Critical Care Nephrology, Kidney Institute, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Shyong Wu
- Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Division of Gastroenterology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chia-Yi, Taiwan
| | - Sen-Yung Hsieh
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Fa-Yauh Lee
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Veteran General Hospital, No. 201, Section 2, Shih-Pai Road, Taipei, 11217 Taiwan
- Faculty of Medicine, Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
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12
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Rakici H. Adrenal Insufficiency in Cirrhosis Patients: Evaluation of 108 Case Series. Euroasian J Hepatogastroenterol 2017; 7:150-153. [PMID: 29201798 PMCID: PMC5670259 DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10018-1237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2017] [Accepted: 08/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM Adrenal insufficiency (AI) in cirrhosis is an issue that has recently gained momentum. It can be seen in both stable and critically ill (sepsis, septic shock, and gastrointestinal system bleeding) cirrhotic patients. Its prevalence exists in a wide range since standardization of diagnostic methods is lacking. We aimed to scrutinize this issue in a 108 case series. MATERIALS AND METHODS We studied the presence of AI and its stage in patients with cirrhosis and its complications by using cross-sectional study. Standard-dose short synacthen test (SD-SST) was performed in 108 patients that had Child C decompensated cirrhosis without critical illness and it was aimed to determine the prevalence of AI based on basal cortisol, peak cortisol, and delta cortisol (basal total cortisol minus peak cortisol after stimulation) levels. RESULTS The prevalence of AI in cirrhosis was found to be 25% based on basal cortisol level of <140 nmol/L, 22.2% based on delta cortisol level of <250 nmol/L, and 29.6% based on peak cortisol level of <500 nmol/L. CONCLUSION Prevalence of AI shows variation in decompensated cirrhosis without critical illness depending on different measures used. More definite results can be obtained when more standardized criteria are widely put into use.How to cite this article: Rakici H. Adrenal Insufficiency in Cirrhosis Patients: Evaluation of 108 Case Series. Euroasian J Hepato-Gastroenterol 2017;7(2):150-153.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hali Rakici
- Department of Gastroenterology, Recep Tayyip Erdogan Universitesi, Riza, Turkey
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13
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Fialla AD, Thiesson HC, Bie P, Schaffalitzky de Muckadell OB, Krag A. Internal dysregulation of the renin system in patients with stable liver cirrhosis. Scandinavian Journal of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation 2017; 77:298-309. [DOI: 10.1080/00365513.2017.1308546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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14
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Kumar KVSH, Pawah AK, Manrai M. Occult endocrine dysfunction in patients with cirrhosis of liver. J Family Med Prim Care 2017. [PMID: 28217586 DOI: 10.4103/2249-4863.197293.] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Liver dysfunction leads to endocrine disturbance due to the alteration in protein metabolism or synthesis. We studied the presence of occult endocrine dysfunction in liver cirrhosis and compared the same with underlying etiology. MATERIALS AND METHODS We evaluated thirty patients with liver cirrhosis in this cross-sectional, observational study. All subjects were assessed for pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, and gonadal function. The patients were divided into Group 1 (cirrhosis, n = 30) and Group 2 (controls, n = 15) and the data were analyzed with appropriate statistical tests. RESULTS The study participants (20 males, 10 females) had a mean age of 54.5 ± 12.4 years and duration of the cirrhosis 5.1 ± 2.7 years. Four patients were in Child Class A, 11 and 15 patients were in Child Classes B and C, respectively. Eleven out of thirty patients (37%) had endocrine disorders, that include subclinical hypothyroidism (n = 3), primary hypothyroidism (n = 1), Sick Euthyroid syndrome (n = 3), central hypothyroidism (n = 2), secondary hypogonadism (n = 3) and growth hormone deficiency in three patients. Two patients had partial hypopituitarism and one patient had complete hypopituitarism. CONCLUSION Occult endocrine dysfunction of thyroid and gonadal axes is common in patients with cirrhosis of the liver. The hormonal abnormalities are not different based on the etiology of the cirrhosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- K V S Hari Kumar
- Department of Endocrinology, Command Hospital, Chandimandir, Panchkula, Haryana, India
| | - A K Pawah
- Department of Medicine, Mayo Institute of Medical Sciences, Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Manish Manrai
- Department of Gastroenterology, Command Hospital, Chandimandir, Panchkula, Haryana, India
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15
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Buckley FI, Mahony O, Webster CRL. Adrenal function in cats with cholestatic liver disease. J Vet Diagn Invest 2016; 29:14-19. [DOI: 10.1177/1040638716671978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Cats with cholestatic liver disease experience significant morbidity and mortality when they undergo invasive procedures under anesthesia. Although inadequate adrenal response might account for these outcomes, adrenal function in cats with cholestatic liver disease has not been documented, to our knowledge. The goal of our study was to describe adrenal function in these cats. Twenty-seven cats with a serum bilirubin >230 µmol/L (3 mg/dL) and serum alanine aminotransferase >2 times the upper limit of normal had pre– and 60-min post–adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) cortisol analysis after administration of 5 µg/kg cosyntropin intravenously. The change in cortisol concentrations (delta cortisol) was calculated. Pre- and post-ACTH cortisol concentrations were compared to reference values. Pre-ACTH, post-ACTH, and delta cortisol values were compared between cats surviving to discharge or for 30 d postdischarge. Mean pre-ACTH cortisol levels (205 ± 113 nmol/L [7.4 ± 4.2 µg/dL]) and post-ACTH cortisol levels (440 ± 113 nmol/L [15.9 ± 4.1 g/dL]) in cholestatic cats were significantly greater than reference values in clinically normal cats. There was no association of pre- or post-ACTH cortisol with survival. Cats with a delta cortisol <179 nmol/L (6.5 µg/dL) were more likely to be non-survivors at 30 d post-discharge ( p = 0.037) than cats with delta cortisol >179 nmol/L (6.5 µg/dL). Results indicate that cats with cholestasis have high basal and ACTH-stimulated cortisol values. A delta cortisol <179 nmol/L (6.5 µg/dL) defines a population of cats that have decreased 30-d survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faith I. Buckley
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, Grafton, MA
| | - Orla Mahony
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, Grafton, MA
| | - Cynthia R. L. Webster
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, Grafton, MA
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16
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La transplantation hépatique en urgence. MEDECINE INTENSIVE REANIMATION 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s13546-016-1207-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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17
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Kumar KVSH, Pawah AK, Manrai M. Occult endocrine dysfunction in patients with cirrhosis of liver. J Family Med Prim Care 2016; 5:576-580. [PMID: 28217586 PMCID: PMC5290763 DOI: 10.4103/2249-4863.197293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Liver dysfunction leads to endocrine disturbance due to the alteration in protein metabolism or synthesis. We studied the presence of occult endocrine dysfunction in liver cirrhosis and compared the same with underlying etiology. MATERIALS AND METHODS We evaluated thirty patients with liver cirrhosis in this cross-sectional, observational study. All subjects were assessed for pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, and gonadal function. The patients were divided into Group 1 (cirrhosis, n = 30) and Group 2 (controls, n = 15) and the data were analyzed with appropriate statistical tests. RESULTS The study participants (20 males, 10 females) had a mean age of 54.5 ± 12.4 years and duration of the cirrhosis 5.1 ± 2.7 years. Four patients were in Child Class A, 11 and 15 patients were in Child Classes B and C, respectively. Eleven out of thirty patients (37%) had endocrine disorders, that include subclinical hypothyroidism (n = 3), primary hypothyroidism (n = 1), Sick Euthyroid syndrome (n = 3), central hypothyroidism (n = 2), secondary hypogonadism (n = 3) and growth hormone deficiency in three patients. Two patients had partial hypopituitarism and one patient had complete hypopituitarism. CONCLUSION Occult endocrine dysfunction of thyroid and gonadal axes is common in patients with cirrhosis of the liver. The hormonal abnormalities are not different based on the etiology of the cirrhosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- K V S Hari Kumar
- Department of Endocrinology, Command Hospital, Chandimandir, Panchkula, Haryana, India
| | - A K Pawah
- Department of Medicine, Mayo Institute of Medical Sciences, Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Manish Manrai
- Department of Gastroenterology, Command Hospital, Chandimandir, Panchkula, Haryana, India
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18
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Chawlani R, Arora A, Ranjan P, Sharma P, Tyagi P, Bansal N, Singla V, Arora V, Kotecha HL, Kirnake V, Toshniwal J, Kumar A. Adrenal insufficiency predicts early mortality in patients with cirrhosis. United European Gastroenterol J 2015; 3:529-38. [PMID: 26668746 DOI: 10.1177/2050640614552314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adrenal insufficiency (AI), also known as hepato-adrenal syndrome, is a well-known entity in cirrhotic patients. However, factors associated with AI and its effect on survival are still not clear. We determined the prevalence of AI in patients with cirrhosis who had no hemodynamic instability or any acute deterioration, and studied its influence on short-term survival. PATIENTS AND METHODS In consecutive cirrhotic patients, presence of AI was determined either by total serum cortisol <18 µg/dl, 60 minutes after 250 µg synacthen injection, or when the delta-fraction (post-synacthen serum cortisol minus basal serum cortisol) was <9 µg/dl. RESULTS A total of 120 patients were included in the study (median age 50 years (range 27-73), males 87%). The median CTP and MELD scores were 10 (range 6-13) and 20 (range 6-40). The etiology of cirrhosis was alcohol (51%), cryptogenic (28%), viral (19%) and autoimmune (2%). Sixty-nine patients (58%) had AI and the remaining 51 (42%) had normal adrenal function. Serum bilirubin was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the AI group, and total cholesterol, HDL, LDL and hemoglobin were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in the AI group. CTP score, MELD score, and basal cortisol levels were not different between those with and without AI (p = NS). By 120 days of follow-up, 41 patients had died. Thus, the 120-day survival was 66%, and this was higher in patients without AI than in patients with AI (78% vs 56%; p = 0.019). On multivariate analysis absence of AI, low WBC and low CTP score independently predicted 120-day survival. CONCLUSIONS AI is present in more than half of cirrhotic patients but does not parallel the severity scores of cirrhosis. Its presence predicts early mortality in these patients, and this prediction is independent of CTP or MELD scores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romesh Chawlani
- Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, India
| | - Anil Arora
- Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, India
| | - Piyush Ranjan
- Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, India
| | - Praveen Sharma
- Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, India
| | - Pankaj Tyagi
- Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, India
| | - Naresh Bansal
- Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, India
| | - Vikas Singla
- Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, India
| | - Veronica Arora
- Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, India
| | - Hardik L Kotecha
- Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, India
| | - Vijendra Kirnake
- Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, India
| | - Jay Toshniwal
- Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, India
| | - Ashish Kumar
- Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, India
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19
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Sun FK, Wang K. Application of glucocorticoids in liver failure. Shijie Huaren Xiaohua Zazhi 2015; 23:4611-4616. [DOI: 10.11569/wcjd.v23.i29.4611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The pathogenesis of liver failure is complicated. Currently, there is a lack of effective measures for the treatment of liver failure. Immune-mediated liver injury plays an important role in the early pathogenesis of liver failure. As an immune and inflammatory inhibitor, glucocorticoids can be considered one of the methods for the treatment of liver failure. However, the application of steroids in the treatment of liver failure in current clinical practice is controversial. This paper summarizes the progress in glucocorticoid use for the treatment of liver failure in recent years. Besides, the focus of controversy on glucocorticoids for treatment of liver failure is also discussed.
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20
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Karagiannis AKA, Nakouti T, Pipili C, Cholongitas E. Adrenal insufficiency in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. World J Hepatol 2015; 7:1112-1124. [PMID: 26052400 PMCID: PMC4450188 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v7.i8.1112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2014] [Revised: 01/12/2015] [Accepted: 02/11/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Adrenal reserve depletion and overstimulation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis are causes for adrenal insufficiency (AI) in critically ill individuals. Cirrhosis is a predisposing condition for AI in cirrhotics as well. Both stable cirrhotics and liver transplant patients (early and later after transplantation) have been reported to present AI. The mechanisms leading to reduced cortisol production in cirrhotics are the combination of low cholesterol levels (the primary source of cortisol), the increased cytokines production that overstimulate and exhaust HPA axis and the destruction of adrenal glands due to coagulopathy. AI has been recorded in 10%-82% cirrhotics depending on the test used to evaluate adrenal function and in 9%-83% stable cirrhotics. The similarity of those proportions support the assumption that AI is an endogenous characteristic of liver disease. However, the lack of a gold standard method for AI assessment and the limitation of precise thresholds in cirrhotics make difficult the recording of the real prevalence of AI. This review aims to summarize the present data over AI in stable, critically ill cirrhotics and liver transplant recipients. Moreover, it provides information about the current knowledge in the used diagnostic tools and the possible effectiveness of corticosteroids administration in critically ill cirrhotics with AI.
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21
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Anastasiadis SN, Giouleme OI, Germanidis GS, Vasiliadis TG. Relative adrenal insufficiency in cirrhotic patients. CLINICAL MEDICINE INSIGHTS. GASTROENTEROLOGY 2015; 8:13-7. [PMID: 25780347 PMCID: PMC4348066 DOI: 10.4137/cgast.s18127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2014] [Revised: 09/19/2014] [Accepted: 10/12/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Relative adrenal insufficiency (RAI) was demonstrated in patients with cirrhosis and liver failure. A relationship appears to exist between the severity of the liver disease and the presence of RAI. Neither the mechanism nor the exact prevalence of RAI is fully understood. There is though a hypothesis that low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels in this group of patients may be responsible for the insufficiency of cortisol. Several questions also arise about the way and the kind of cortisol (total cortisol, free cortisol, or even salivary cortisol) that should be measured. The presence of RAI in patients with cirrhosis is unquestionable, but still several studies should come up in order to properly define it and fully understand it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sotirios N Anastasiadis
- 3rd Department of Internal Medicine, Papageorgiou Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Olga I Giouleme
- 2nd Prop. Clinic of Internal Medicine, Hippokration Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Georgios S Germanidis
- 1st Department of Internal Medicine, AHEPA Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Themistoklis G Vasiliadis
- 3rd Department of Internal Medicine, Papageorgiou Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
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22
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Zhang JJ, Fan YC, Zhao ZH, Yang Y, Dou CY, Gao S, Wang K. Prognoses of patients with acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure are closely associated with altered SOCS1 mRNA expression and cytokine production following glucocorticoid treatment. Cell Mol Immunol 2014; 11:396-404. [PMID: 24727541 DOI: 10.1038/cmi.2014.23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2013] [Revised: 02/13/2014] [Accepted: 02/13/2014] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) 1 plays a crucial role in the immune response and might contribute to the prognoses of liver failure treated with glucocorticoid. We recruited 47 acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure (ACHBLF) patients receiving glucocorticoid treatment and 30 healthy controls to determine the potential effects of glucocorticoid on the transcriptional level of SOCS1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. On the third and twenty-eighth days of glucocorticoid treatment, SOCS1 expression was negatively correlated with model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor-necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels were statistically lower, while the SOCS1 transcription level was higher in survivors than non-survivors both in pre- and post-treatment ACHBLF patients. The methylation rate of the SOCS1 promoter in ACHBLF patients was higher than in healthy control patients as determined by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction. The mRNA level of SOCS1 in methylated promoters was significantly lower than from patients with unmethylated SOCS1 promoters. interferon (IFN)-γ-responsive and STAT1-dependent gene expression was higher in survivors and was dramatically decreased with rising expression of SOCS1 after glucocorticoid treatment. Mortality rates were significantly higher in methylated patients than for those without methylation at the end of a 90-day follow-up. Furthermore, we found that five in six surviving patients displayed demethylated SOCS1 on the twenty-eighth day after treatment, while that number was 3 in 10 in the non-survivors. These findings suggested that ACHBLF patients without SOCS1 methylation may have a favorable response to corticosteroid treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Jun Zhang
- Department of Hepatology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Ji'nan, China
| | - Yu-Chen Fan
- 1] Department of Hepatology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Ji'nan, China [2] Institute of Hepatology, Shandong University, Ji'nan, China
| | - Ze-Hua Zhao
- Department of Hepatology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Ji'nan, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of Hepatology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Ji'nan, China
| | - Cheng-Yun Dou
- Department of Hepatology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Ji'nan, China
| | - Shuai Gao
- Department of Hepatology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Ji'nan, China
| | - Kai Wang
- 1] Department of Hepatology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Ji'nan, China [2] Institute of Hepatology, Shandong University, Ji'nan, China
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Abdelgadir EIE, Bashier AM, Al Hameedi IA, Abdulaziz A, Abuelkheir S, Alawadi F. Peri-portal lymphedema in association with an acute adrenal insufficiency: case report. J Med Case Rep 2014; 8:98. [PMID: 24661563 PMCID: PMC3978082 DOI: 10.1186/1752-1947-8-98] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2013] [Accepted: 02/18/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION We report the case of a patient with peri-portal lymphedema in association with severe adrenal insufficiency. To the best of our knowledge, this association was not previously reported in the literature. Peri-portal lymphedema is usually seen in cases such as blunt abdominal trauma, hepatic congestion and post-liver transplantation. CASE PRESENTATION We present the case of a 28-year-old Indian man who presented to our hospital with adrenal crisis and was treated accordingly. Computed tomography of his abdomen showed evidence of peri-portal lymphedema (edema) with some free fluid collection. We excluded other causes of this pathology and followed the patient's condition after steroid replacement therapy. We found no other contributing factors to the patient's peri-portal lymphedema apart from the adrenal crisis, which was more consolidated when we followed the patient after steroid replacement therapy, during which follow-up computed tomography showed complete resolution of the pathology. CONCLUSIONS We conclude following an extensive MEDLINE® search that this is the first case to be reported for the association between peri-portal lymphedema and adrenal insufficiency, after having excluded all other causes of peri-portal lymphedema. This signifies reporting of this case as the first one in the medical literature.
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Yi SG, Sadhu AR, Jones SL, Turner K, Monsour H, Donahue K, Xia X, Gaber AO, Ghobrial RM, Burroughs SG. The Effect of Adrenal Replacement Therapy on Rates of Fungal Colonization and Mortality in Critically Ill Patients Awaiting Liver Transplantation. J Clin Transl Hepatol 2013; 1:2-8. [PMID: 26355432 PMCID: PMC4521274 DOI: 10.14218/jcth.2013.00007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2013] [Revised: 06/26/2013] [Accepted: 06/28/2013] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The effect of adrenal replacement therapy (ART) with hydrocortisone on critical endpoints such as infection and mortality in critically ill patients with cirrhosis remains unclear. We evaluated our indications for ART in patients with cirrhosis with clinical symptoms of adrenal insufficiency (AI), and examined the rate of peri-transplant fungal colonization and mortality associated with ART. METHODS Seventy-eight patients with cirrhosis admitted to our institution's surgical intensive care unit (ICU) over a 4-year period met criteria for AI by vasopressor requirement and baseline cortisol levels. Outcomes included disposition at 90-days, fungal colonization, and fungal infection in the presence or absence of ART. RESULTS In total, 56 patients received hydrocortisone (HC+) while 22 did not (HC-). The HC+ and HC- groups had comparable median Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores (26.5 vs. 25, respectively; p=0.93), median ICU lengths of stay (23 vs. 20 days, respectively; p=0.54) and median cortisol levels (18 μg/dL for both, p=0.87). Fungal cultures (FC) from blood, urine or bronchoalveolar lavage/sputum were positive for 44% of HC+, and 40.9% of HC- (p=0.77) had mortality rates between HC+ and HC- groups that were not significantly different (60.7% vs. 50%, respectively; p=0.39; α=0.05). The 90-day outcomes for HC+ vs. HC- (39.3% vs. 50% discharged, respectively; p=0.39; α=0.05) and those surviving to transplant (17.9% vs. 36.4%, respectively; p=0.08; α=0.05) were not significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSION In this small single-center series, we found that steroid administration for AI does not affect the rate of fungal colonization/infection or mortality. Further prospective studies are required to determine the utility of ART and factors affecting the rate of FC and mortality in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie G. Yi
- Department of Surgery, The Methodist Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical College, Houston, TX
| | - Archana R. Sadhu
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, The Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX
| | - Stephen L. Jones
- Department of Surgery, The Methodist Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical College, Houston, TX
| | - Krista Turner
- Department of Surgery, University of New Mexico at Albuquerque, Albuquerque, NM
| | - Howard Monsour
- Hepatology and Transplant Medicine, Department of Medicine, The Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX
| | - Kevin Donahue
- Department of Pharmacy, The Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX
| | - Xuefeng Xia
- The Methodist Hospital Research Institute, The Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX
| | - A. Osama Gaber
- Liver Transplantation and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Department of Surgery, The Methodist Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical College, Houston, TX
| | - R. Mark Ghobrial
- Liver Transplantation and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Department of Surgery, The Methodist Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical College, Houston, TX
| | - Sherilyn Gordon Burroughs
- Liver Transplantation and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Department of Surgery, The Methodist Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical College, Houston, TX
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Liver abnormalities and endocrine diseases. Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol 2013; 27:553-63. [PMID: 24090942 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpg.2013.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2013] [Accepted: 06/12/2013] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The liver and its pleotropic functions play a fundamental role in regulating metabolism, and is also an inevitable target of multiple metabolic disorders. The numerous and constant relationships and feedback mechanisms between the liver and all endocrine organs is reflected by the fact that an alteration of one oftentimes results in the malfunction of the other. Hypo- and hyperthyroidism are frequently associated with hepatic alterations, and thyroid diseases must be excluded in transaminase elevation of unknown cause. Drugs such as propylthiouracil, used in the treatment of hyperthyroidism, may induce liver damage, and other drugs such as amiodarone, carbamazepine, and several chemotherapeutic agents can lead to both thyroid and liver abnormalities. Liver diseases such as hepatitis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and cirrhosis may cause altered levels of thyroid hormones, and alcoholic liver disease, both due to the noxious substance ethanol as well as to the hepatic damage it causes, may be responsible for altered thyroid function. Both excess and insufficiency of adrenal function may result in altered liver function, and adrenocortical dysfunction may be present in patients with cirrhosis, especially during episodes of decompensation. Again an important player which affects both the endocrine system and the liver, alcohol may be associated with pseudo-Cushing syndrome. Sex hormones, both intrinsic as well as extrinsically administered, have an important impact on liver function. While oestrogens are related to cholestatic liver damage, androgens are the culprit of adenomas and hepatocellular carcinoma, among others. Chronic liver disease, on the other hand, has profound repercussions on sex hormone metabolism, inducing feminization in men and infertility and amenorrhoea in women. Lastly, metabolic syndrome, the pandemia of the present and future centuries, links the spectrum of liver damage ranging from steatosis to cirrhosis, to the array of endocrine alterations that are features of the syndrome, including insulin resistance, central obesity, and hyperlipidaemia. Clinical practice must integrally evaluate the effects of the intricate and tight relationship between the liver and the endocrine system, in order to better address all manifestations, complications, and prevent deterioration of one or the other organ-system.
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Choi SS, Yu J, Kim YK, Hwang GS. Severe hemodynamic instability in a patient with suspected hepatoadrenal syndrome during liver transplantation -A case report-. Korean J Anesthesiol 2013; 64:536-40. [PMID: 23814656 PMCID: PMC3695253 DOI: 10.4097/kjae.2013.64.6.536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2012] [Revised: 08/09/2012] [Accepted: 08/10/2012] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Adrenal insufficiency, which is related to hemodynamic instability and increased mortality, has been reported in patients with advanced liver disease regardless of the presence of septic conditions. In this regard, the hepatoadrenal syndrome has been recently proposed as adrenal insufficiency in critically ill patients with liver disease. We describe here a 67-year-old female patient with hepatic failure and adrenal insufficiency. The patient showed stable vital signs and no evidence of sepsis preoperatively. Despite hydrocortisone replacement and inotropics administration, severe intraoperative hemodynamic instability was observed. Hydrocortisone administration was continued postoperatively, nevertheless inotropics could not be tapered. On postoperative day 11, the patient died due to pneumonia and septic shock. Hepatoadrenal syndrome may have played a key role in her severe hemodynamic fluctuation and poor outcome, reinforcing the importance of adrenal function in the liver transplantation surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seong-Soo Choi
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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Adrenal insufficiency as a cause of acute liver failure: a case report. Case Rep Endocrinol 2013; 2013:487189. [PMID: 23533837 PMCID: PMC3596948 DOI: 10.1155/2013/487189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2013] [Accepted: 01/23/2013] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction. Many diseases and conditions can contribute to elevated liver enzymes. Common causes include viral and autoimmune hepatitis, fatty liver, and bile duct diseases, but, in uncommon cases like liver involvement in endocrine disorders, liver failure is also seen. Adrenal insufficiency is the rarest endocrine disorder complicating the liver. In the previously reported cases of adrenal insufficiency, mild liver enzymes elevation was seen but we report a case with severe elevated liver enzymes and liver failure due to adrenal insufficiency. Based on our knowledge, this is the first report in this field. Case Report. A 39-year-old woman was referred to emergency ward due to drowsiness and severe fatigue. Her laboratory tests revealed prothrombin time: 21 sec, alanine aminotransferase (ALT): 2339 IU/L, aspartate aminotransferase (AST): 2002 IU/L, and ALP: 90 IU/L. No common cause of liver involvement was discovered, and eventually, with diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency and corticosteroid therapy, liver enzymes and function became normal. Finally, the patient was discharged with good general condition. Conclusion. With this report, we emphasize adrenal insufficiency (primary or secondary) as a reason of liver involvement in unexplainable cases and recommend that any increase in the liver enzymes, even liver failure, in these patients should be observed.
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Trifan A, Chiriac S, Stanciu C. Update on adrenal insufficiency in patients with liver cirrhosis. World J Gastroenterol 2013; 19:445-56. [PMID: 23382623 PMCID: PMC3558568 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i4.445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2012] [Revised: 12/03/2012] [Accepted: 12/20/2012] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver cirrhosis is a major cause of mortality worldwide, often with severe sepsis as the terminal event. Over the last two decades, several studies have reported that in septic patients the adrenal glands respond inappropriately to stimulation, and that the treatment with corticosteroids decreases mortality in such patients. Both cirrhosis and septic shock share many hemodynamic abnormalities such as hyperdynamic circulatory failure, decreased peripheral vascular resistance, increased cardiac output, hypo-responsiveness to vasopressors, increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines [interleukine(IL)-1, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha] and it has, consequently, been reported that adrenal insufficiency (AI) is common in critically ill cirrhotic patients. AI may also be present in patients with stable cirrhosis without sepsis and in those undergoing liver transplantation. The term hepato-adrenal syndrome defines AI in patients with advanced liver disease with sepsis and/or other complications, and it suggests that it could be a feature of liver disease per se, with a different pathogenesis from that of septic shock. Relative AI is the term given to inadequate cortisol response to stress. More recently, another term is used, namely "critical illness related corticosteroid insufficiency" to define "an inadequate cellular corticosteroid activity for the severity of the patient's illness". The mechanisms of AI in liver cirrhosis are not completely understood, although decreased levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and high levels of proinflammatory cytokines and circulatory endotoxin have been suggested. The prevalence of AI in cirrhotic patients varies widely according to the stage of the liver disease (compensated or decompensated, with or without sepsis), the diagnostic criteria defining AI and the methodology used. The effects of corticosteroid therapy on cirrhotic patients with septic shock and AI are controversial. This review aims to summarize the existing published information regarding AI in patients with liver cirrhosis.
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Perogamvros I, Ray DW, Trainer PJ. Regulation of cortisol bioavailability--effects on hormone measurement and action. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2012; 8:717-27. [PMID: 22890008 DOI: 10.1038/nrendo.2012.134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Routine assessment of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis relies on the measurement of total serum cortisol levels. However, most cortisol in serum is bound to corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG) and albumin, and changes in the structure or circulating levels of binding proteins markedly affect measured total serum cortisol levels. Furthermore, high-affinity binding to CBG is predicted to affect the availability of cortisol for the glucocorticoid receptor. CBG is a substrate for activated neutrophil elastase, which cleaves the binding protein and results in the release of cortisol at sites of inflammation, enhancing its tissue-specific anti-inflammatory effects. Further tissue-specific modulation of cortisol availability is conferred by corticosteroid 11β-dehydrogenase. Direct assessment of tissue levels of bioavailable cortisol is not clinically practicable and measurement of total serum cortisol levels is of limited value in clinical conditions that alter prereceptor glucocorticoid bioavailability. Bioavailable cortisol can, however, be measured indirectly at systemic, extracellular tissue and cell levels, using novel techniques that have provided new insight into the transport, metabolism and biological action of glucocorticoids. A more physiologically informative approach is, therefore, now possible in the assessment of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which could prove useful in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilias Perogamvros
- Endocrine Sciences Research Group, School of Medicine, University of Manchester, A. V. Hill Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK.
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Theocharidou E, Krag A, Bendtsen F, Møller S, Burroughs AK. Cardiac dysfunction in cirrhosis - does adrenal function play a role? A hypothesis. Liver Int 2012; 32:1327-32. [PMID: 22292920 DOI: 10.1111/j.1478-3231.2011.02751.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2011] [Accepted: 12/20/2011] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy (CCM), a condition of unknown pathogenesis, is characterized by suboptimal ventricular contractile response to stress, diastolic dysfunction and QT interval prolongation. It is most often found in patients with advanced cirrhosis. It is clinically relevant during stressful conditions, such as sepsis, bleeding and surgery. CCM reverses after liver transplantation and potentially has a role in the pathogenesis of hepatorenal syndrome. In adrenal insufficiency (AI), cardiac dysfunction is a feature with low ejection fraction, decreased left ventricular chamber size and electrocardiographic abnormalities, including QT interval prolongation. With optimal diagnostic tests, AI is present in approximately 10% of patients with cirrhosis, particularly in those with advanced disease. Down-regulation and decreased number of beta-adrenergic receptors, and high catecholamine levels are common to both cardiac conditions. Thus, AI may play a role in CCM. Steroid replacement therapy reverses cardiac changes in AI, and may do so for CCM, with important therapeutic implications; this needs formal evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleni Theocharidou
- The Royal Free Sheila Sherlock Liver Centre, Royal Free Hospital, Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust and UCL, London, UK
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31
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Elfaramawy AA. Hepatoadrenal syndrome in Egyptian children with liver cirrhosis with and without sepsis. EGYPTIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL HUMAN GENETICS 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmhg.2012.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
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Acute adrenal insufficiency in cervical spinal cord injury. World Neurosurg 2011; 77:561-3. [PMID: 22120347 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2011.06.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2011] [Revised: 05/15/2011] [Accepted: 06/24/2011] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adequate adrenal response is fundamental for the maintenance of physiological homeostasis in the setting of trauma and severe illness. Patients with neurogenic shock are at risk of severe consequences if adrenal insufficiency (AI) is not rapidly identified and treated. OBJECTIVE To analyze the incidence of AI in patients with acute cervical spinal cord injury and its effect on in-hospital complications. METHODS The medical records of patients older than 18 years who were admitted to the adult neurosurgery service at the University District Hospital as the result of neurogenic shock after acute cervical spinal cord injury from January 2004 to December 2009 were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS One hundred ninety-nine patients were admitted with acute cervical spinal cord injury. A total of 37 patients met the pre-established criteria for neurogenic shock. The incidence of AI in patients with neurogenic shock was 22%. The average random cortisol was 9.3 μg/dL in patients with AI versus 29.2 μg/dL in non-AI. The presence of AI was positively correlated with complications and an increase in the risk of intubation (P = 0.01 and P = 0.002). The 30-day mortality rate in patients with AI was 13% compared with the 3% in the non-AI group (P = 0.39). CONCLUSIONS Adrenal insufficiency is a poorly recognized complication in patients with acute cervical spinal cord injury and its aggressive treatment is of utmost importance to avoid further neurological injury.
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Sundaram V, Shaikh OS. Acute liver failure: current practice and recent advances. Gastroenterol Clin North Am 2011; 40:523-39. [PMID: 21893272 DOI: 10.1016/j.gtc.2011.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
ALF is an important cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality. Advances in the management of ICH and SIRS, and cardiorespiratory, metabolic, and renal support have improved the outlook of such patients. Early transfer to a liver transplant center is essential. Routine use of NAC is recommended for patients with early hepatic encephalopathy, irrespective of the etiology. The role of hypothermia remains to be determined. Liver transplantation plays a critical role, particularly for those with advanced encephalopathy. Several detoxification and BAL support systems have been developed to serve as a bridge to transplantation or to spontaneous recovery. However, such systems lack sufficient reliability and efficacy to be applied routinely in clinical practice. Hepatocyte and stem cell transplantation may provide valuable adjunctive therapy in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinay Sundaram
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA
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Laleman W, Verbeke L, Meersseman P, Wauters J, van Pelt J, Cassiman D, Wilmer A, Verslype C, Nevens F. Acute-on-chronic liver failure: current concepts on definition, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations and potential therapeutic interventions. Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2011; 5:523-37; quiz 537. [PMID: 21780899 DOI: 10.1586/egh.11.47] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, acute-on-chronic liver failure has been recognized as a specific clinical form of liver failure associated with cirrhosis. The syndrome refers to an acute deterioration of liver function and subsequently of other end organs over a period of weeks following a precipitating event in a patient with previously well- or reasonably well-compensated cirrhosis. These precipitating events include either an indirect (e.g., variceal hemorrhage, sepsis) or a direct (e.g., drug-induced) hepatotoxic factor. The short-term mortality for this condition is more than 50%. At present, considerable efforts are ongoing to better characterize the syndrome, to gain further insight into its pathophysiology and to optimize therapy. This article aims to highlight the current concepts of these various aspects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wim Laleman
- Department of Liver and Biliopancreatic disorders, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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Triantos CK, Marzigie M, Fede G, Michalaki M, Giannakopoulou D, Thomopoulos K, Garcovich M, Kalafateli M, Chronis A, Kyriazopoulou V, Jelastopoulou E, Nikolopoulou V, O'Beirne J, Burroughs AK. Critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency in patients with cirrhosis and variceal bleeding. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2011; 9:595-601. [PMID: 21545846 DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2011.03.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2011] [Accepted: 03/09/2011] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Relative adrenal insufficiency (AI) occurs in patients with cirrhosis with sepsis, but not with variceal bleeding. We evaluated adrenal function in cirrhotic patients with and without bleeding. METHODS Twenty cirrhotic patients with variceal bleeding were evaluated using the short synacthen test (SST) and 10 using the low-dose synacthen test (LDSST) followed by SST. The control group included 60 stable cirrhotic patients, assessed by LDSST (n = 50) or SST (n = 10), and 14 healthy volunteers. AI was diagnosed using SST, based on peak cortisol levels ≤ 18 μg/dL in nonstressed patients or Δmax <9 μg/dL or a total cortisol level <10 μg/dL in stressed patients with variceal bleeding-the current criteria for critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency. Using LDSST, diagnosis was based on peak concentrations of cortisol ≤ 18 μg/dL in nonstressed patients and <25 μg/dL (or Δmax <9 μg/dL) in patients with variceal bleeding. We evaluated patients with levels of serum albumin >2.5 g/dL, to indirectly assess cortisol binding. RESULTS All healthy volunteers had normal results from LDSSTs and SSTs. Patients with variceal bleeding had higher median baseline concentrations of cortisol (15.4 μg/dL) than stable cirrhotic patients (8.7 μg/dL, P = .001) or healthy volunteers (10.1 μg/dL, P = .01). Patients with variceal bleeding had higher median peak concentrations of cortisol than stable cirrhotic patients (SST results of 32.7 vs 21 μg/dL, P = .001; LDSST results of 9.3 vs 8.1 μg/dL; nonsignificant), with no differences in Δmax in either test. These differences were greater with variceal bleeding than in stable cirrhotic patients with AI. Subanalysis of patients with albumin levels >2.5 g/dL did not change these differences. CONCLUSIONS Cirrhotic patients with variceal bleeding have AI. Despite higher baseline concentrations of serum cortisol and subnormal Δmax values, they did not have adequate responses to stress, and therefore had critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christos K Triantos
- Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital of Patras, Patras, Greece.
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Abstract
Liver disease and endocrine disorders, both common in the general population, have a bidirectional and complex relationship. Certain liver diseases are more commonly associated with endocrine disorders, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, autoimmune hepatitis, and primary biliary cirrhosis. There may be an association between hepatitis C and type 2 diabetes mellitus as well as thyroid disorders, and sex hormonal preparations may cause specific hepatic lesions. The presence of relative adrenal insufficiency in patients with end-stage liver disease may have therapeutic implications in patients admitted with acute-on-chronic liver failure. The objective of this review is to focus on the effect of endocrine disorders on liver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anurag Maheshwari
- Institute for Digestive Health & Liver Diseases, Mercy Medical Center, 301 Saint Paul Place, Physician Office Building 718, Baltimore, MD 21202, USA
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Fede G, Spadaro L, Tomaselli T, Privitera G, Piro S, Rabuazzo AM, Sigalas A, Xirouchakis E, O'Beirne J, Garcovich M, Tsochatzis E, Purrello F, Burroughs AK. Assessment of adrenocortical reserve in stable patients with cirrhosis. J Hepatol 2011; 54:243-50. [PMID: 21056503 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2010.06.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2010] [Revised: 06/16/2010] [Accepted: 06/17/2010] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Adrenal insufficiency (AI) is reported in critically ill patients with cirrhosis and is associated with increased mortality. It is unclear if AI is an underlying condition or triggered by critical events (e.g. sepsis). We investigated AI in cirrhosis without infection or hemodynamic instability. METHODS A total of 101 consecutive patients with cirrhosis were studied. AI was defined by a total serum cortisol (TC) <18 μg/dl at 20 or 30 min after injection of 1 μg of tetracosactrin. Transcortin, calculated free cortisol (cFC), and free cortisol index (FCI) were assessed in a subgroup of 41 patients, with FCI>12 representing normal adrenal function. RESULTS AI was present in 38 patients (38%). Child score (median, 10 vs 7, p<0.0001), MELD score (median, 17 vs 12, p<0.0001), ascites (68% vs 37%, p<0.01), basal TC (median,7.6 vs 14.9 μg/dl, p<0.001), albumin (28 ± 0.8 vs 33 ± 0.7 g/L, p<0.0001), INR (median, 1.6 vs 1.2, p<0.0001), total bilirubin (median, 51 vs 31 μmol/L, p<0.05), total cholesterol (median, 120 vs 142, p<0.05), and LDL (median, 76 vs 81, p<0.05) were significantly different between those with and without AI. ROC curves showed a basal TC ≤ 12.8 μg/dl to be a cut-off value closely associated with AI. The cFC was significantly related to TC for baseline values (R=0.94, p<0.0001), peak values (R=0.90, p<0.0001), and delta values (R=0.95, p<0.0001), in patients with and without AI. However, no patient had a FCI<12. CONCLUSIONS AI defined by an abnormal response to 1 μg tetracosactrin is frequent in stable patients with cirrhosis, in the absence of infections or hemodynamic instability and is related to the severity of liver disease. However, evaluation of the true incidence of AI should comprise direct assays of free cortisol. Clinical consequences of AI need to be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Fede
- Internal Medicine, University of Catania - Garibaldi Hospital, Catania, Italy
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Arvaniti V, D'Amico G, Fede G, Manousou P, Tsochatzis E, Pleguezuelo M, Burroughs AK. Infections in patients with cirrhosis increase mortality four-fold and should be used in determining prognosis. Gastroenterology 2010; 139:1246-56, 1256.e1-5. [PMID: 20558165 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2010.06.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 759] [Impact Index Per Article: 54.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2010] [Revised: 05/18/2010] [Accepted: 06/08/2010] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS A staged prognostic model of cirrhosis based on varices, ascites, and bleeding has been proposed. We analyzed data on infections in patients with cirrhosis to determine whether it is also a prognostic factor. METHODS Studies were identified by MEDLINE, EMBASE, COCHRANE, and ISI Web of Science searches (1978-2009); search terms included sepsis, infection, mortality, and cirrhosis. Studies (n = 178) reporting more than 10 patients and mortality data were evaluated (225 cohorts, 11,987 patients). Mortality after 1, 3, and 12 months was compared with severity, site, microbial cause of infection, etiology of cirrhosis, and publication year. Pooled odds ratio of death was compared for infected versus noninfected groups (18 cohorts, 2317 patients). RESULTS Overall median mortality of infected patients was 38%: 30.3% at 1 month and 63% at 12 months. Pooled odds ratio for death of infected versus noninfected patients was 3.75 (95% confidence interval, 2.12-4.23). In 101 studies that reported spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (7062 patients), the median mortality was 43.7%: 31.5% at 1 month and 66.2% at 12 months. In 30 studies that reported bacteremia (1437 patients), the median mortality rate was 42.2%. Mortality before 2000 was 47.7% and after 2000 was 32.3% (P = .023); mortality was reduced only at 30 days after spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (49% vs 31.5%; P = .005). CONCLUSIONS In patients with cirrhosis, infections increase mortality 4-fold; 30% of patients die within 1 month after infection and another 30% die by 1 year. Prospective studies with prolonged follow-up evaluation and to evaluate preventative strategies are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasiliki Arvaniti
- The Sheila Sherlock Liver Centre, and University Department of Surgery, Royal Free Hospital and University College London, London, United Kingdom
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Perogamvros I, Owen LJ, Keevil BG, Brabant G, Trainer PJ. Measurement of salivary cortisol with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in patients undergoing dynamic endocrine testing. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2010; 72:17-21. [PMID: 19302583 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2265.2009.03582.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) eliminates cross-reactivity, which is a major limitation of immunoassays used for the measurement of salivary cortisol (SalC). We aimed to evaluate the potential of SalC measured by LC-MS/MS in patients undergoing assessment of the HPA axis. DESIGN AND PATIENTS Cross-sectional study of 78 patients admitted for routine testing in a specialized endocrine unit. MEASUREMENTS Matched serum and saliva samples were collected from 68 patients who had a short synacthen test (SST, 250 mcg im) and 10 patients who had an insulin tolerance test (ITT, insulin 0.15 U/kg iv). Serum cortisol (SerC) was measured with an automated immunoassay and SalC with LC-MS/MS. Adequate SerC responses were >500 nmol/l. RESULTS In all patients with adequate responses, the relative increase in SalC was significantly higher than that in SerC [6.4(0.3-26.1) vs. 1.0(0.3-4.9), P < 0.0001)]. The SerC-SalC relationship was better explained by an exponential rather than a linear model (R(2)=0.83 vs. R(2)=0.65, both P < 0.0001). Based on 59 patients with adequate SerC responses to an SST, an adequate SalC response was defined as 8.3 nmol/l. Seven patients following an SST and three patients following an ITT showed inadequate responses in both SerC and SalC, but two patients with CBG deficiency showed a low SerC with normal SalC. CONCLUSIONS We have shown an excellent diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of LC-MS/MS SalC in the assessment of the HPA axis and superiority over SerC when CBG levels are altered. The exponential relationship between SerC and SalC supports the concept of CBG binding capacity saturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan R Bornstein
- Department of Medicine, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
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Toniutto P, Fabris C, Fumolo E, Bitetto D, Fornasiere E, Falleti E, Rapetti R, Minisini R, Pirisi M. Prevalence and risk factors for delayed adrenal insufficiency after liver transplantation. Liver Transpl 2008; 14:1014-9. [PMID: 18581463 DOI: 10.1002/lt.21465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Liver transplantation (LT) recipients are at risk for early and delayed adrenal insufficiency for multiple reasons. Although early adrenal insufficiency is known to occur in a high proportion of recipients maintained on steroid-free immunosuppressive regimens, the prevalence and risk factors associated with delayed functional adrenal gland atrophy (FAGA) are unknown because routine evaluation for this condition is not standard practice among LT centers. We investigated a group of 87 patients (64 males) transplanted for end-stage liver disease related to different etiologies. All underwent a standard corticotropin stimulation test (CST) when, after gradual steroid tapering, they had been maintained for at least 1 week on oral prednisone at a daily dose of 5 mg. FAGA, defined by a serum cortisol concentration that, 60 minutes after corticotropin administration, did not double the baseline level and remained <20 mug/dL, was diagnosed in 23/87 patients (26.4%). Stepwise logistic regression analysis selected as significant predictors of FAGA the cumulative dosage of corticosteroids administered (P < 0.01), the increase in the body mass index after LT (P < 0.01), a low serum cholesterol concentration (P = 0.005), and a high adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) serum level (P < 0.05) at the time CST was performed. In conclusion, FAGA is a common condition among LT recipients who are maintained on prolonged corticosteroid immunosuppressive treatment. Factors associated with FAGA include the cumulative steroid dose, weight changes after LT, and ACTH and cholesterol levels at the time of steroid withdrawal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierluigi Toniutto
- Medical Liver Transplantation Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Pathology and Medicine, University of Udine, Italy.
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Abstract
Systemic illnesses are associated with alterations in the hypothalamic-pituitary-peripheral hormone axes, which represent part of the adaptive response to stressful events and may be influenced by type and severity of illness and/or pharmacological therapy. The pituitary gland responds to an acute stressful event with two secretory patterns: adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), prolactin (PRL) and growth hormone (GH) levels increase, while luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and thyrotropin (TSH) levels may either decrease or remain unchanged, associated with a decreased activity of their target organ. In protracted critical illness, there is a uniformly reduced pulsatile secretion of ACTH, TSH, LH, PRL and GH, causing a reduction in serum levels of the respective target-hormones. These adaptations are initially protective; however, if inadequate or excessive they may be dangerous and may contribute to the high morbidity and mortality risk of these patients. There is no consensus regarding the type of approach, as well as the criteria to use to define pituitary axis function in critically ill patients. We here provide a critical approach to pituitary axis evaluation during systemic illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Bondanelli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Advanced Therapies, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
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