Algorithm for Screening of Adrenal Function in Stable Patients with Cirrhosis

Prognostic value of relative adrenal insufficiency in patients with severe alcohol-associated hepatitis-A prospective clinical study

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Relative adrenal insufficiency (RAI) is frequent in patients with liver cirrhosis and affects their prognosis. Scarce data on RAI in patients with alcohol-associated hepatitis (AAH) exists. This study aimed to document the prevalence and prognostic implication of RAI in patients with severe AAH.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Adults with a first episode of AAH were selected. The delta cortisol level was the difference between the serum basal cortisol and 60min after ACTH stimulation. Cox proportional-hazard regression model was used for univariate analysis of prognostic factors with 95% confidence intervals. The Kaplan-Meier and log-rank tests were applied for survival analysis between patients with RAI and without RAI.

RESULTS

Twenty-five subjects with a first episode of AAH were included. Eight (32.0%) deaths occurred in our cohort. Univariate analysis showed that presence of RAI (p=0.049) had a significant impact on 90-day Overall Survival (OS). Serum albumin (p=0.991), serum creatinine (p=0.954), sodium (p=0.986) and international normalized ratio (p=0.073) did not show a significant impact on 90-day OS. Ninety-day overall survival for patients with RAI was 50.0% vs. 90.9% in those without RAI, (p=0.040).

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of RAI seems to be a fair predictor of intermediate-term survival in AAH patients.

Adrenal insufficiency in liver diseases - pathophysiology and underlying mechanisms

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.

Adrenal insufficiency in cirrhosis

Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis assessment in patients with cirrhosis is challenging. The phenotype of fatigue, hypotension, electrolyte disarray, and abdominal pain characterizing primary adrenal insufficiency (AI) overlaps significantly with decompensated liver disease. Reliance on total cortisol assays in hypoproteinemic states is problematic, yet abnormal stimulated levels in cirrhosis are associated with poor clinical outcomes. Alternative measures including free plasma or salivary cortisol levels have theoretical merit but are limited by unclear prognostic significance and undefined cirrhosis-specific reference ranges. Further complicating matters is that AI in cirrhosis represents a spectrum of impairment. Although absolute cortisol deficiency can occur, this represents a minority of cases. Instead, there is an emerging concept that cirrhosis, with or without critical illness, may induce a “relative” cortisol deficiency during times of stress. In addition, the limitations posed by decreased synthesis of binding globulins in cirrhosis necessitate re-evaluation of traditional AI diagnostic thresholds.

A Predictive Risk Score to Diagnose Adrenal Insufficiency in Outpatients: A 7 Year Retrospective Cohort Study

Background: The diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency (AI) requires dynamic tests which may not be available in some institutions. This study aimed to develop a predictive risk score to help diagnose AI in outpatients with indeterminate serum cortisol levels. Methods: Five hundred and seven patients with intermediate serum cortisol levels (3–17.9 µg/dL) who had undergone ACTH (adrenocorticotropin) stimulation tests were included in the study. A predictive risk score was created using significant predictive factors identified by multivariable analysis using Poisson regression clustered by ACTH dose. Results: The seven predictive factors used in the development of a predictive model with their assigned scores are as follows: chronic kidney disease (9.0), Cushingoid appearance in exogenous steroid use (12.0), nausea and/or vomiting (6.0), fatigue (2.0), basal cortisol <9 µg/dL (12.5), cholesterol <150 mg/dL (2.5) and sodium <135 mEq/L (1.0). Predictive risk scores range from 0–50.0. A high risk level (scores of 19.5–50.0) indicates a higher possibility of having AI (positive likelihood ratio (LR+) = 11.75), while a low risk level (scores of <19.0) indicates a lower chance of having AI (LR+ = 0.09). The predictive performance of the scoring system was 0.82 based on the area under the curve. Conclusions: This predictive risk score can help to determine the probability of AI and can be used as a guide to determine which patients need treatment for AI and which require dynamic tests to confirm AI.

Liver and Steroid Hormones-Can a Touch of p53 Make a Difference?

The liver is the main metabolic organ in the body, serving as a significant hormonal secretory gland and functioning to maintain hormone balance and homeostasis. Steroid hormones regulate various biological pathways, mainly in the reproductive system and in many metabolic processes. The liver, as well as steroid hormones, contribute significantly, through functional intertwine, to homeostasis maintenance, and proper responses during stress. Malfunction of either has a significant impact on the other and may lead to severe liver diseases as well as to several endocrine syndromes. Thus, the regulation on liver functions as on steroid hormones levels and activities is well-controlled. p53, the well-known tumor suppressor gene, was recently found to regulate metabolism and general homeostasis processes, particularly within the liver. Moreover, p53 was shown to be involved in steroid hormones regulation. In this review, we discuss the bi-directional regulation of the liver and the steroid hormones pointing to p53 as a novel regulator in this axis. A comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms of this axis may help to prevent and treat related disease, especially with the increasing exposure of the population to environmental steroid hormones and steroid hormone-based medication.