Diagnosing and treatment of adrenocortical insufficiency in the intensive care unit

In critically ill patients, activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis with the production of cortisol is crucial for survival under conditions of physiologic stress. The increase in cortisol production results in several important effects on metabolic, cardiovascular and immune aim...

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Main Author: Mat Nor, Mohd Basri
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Malaysian Society of Anaesthesiologists 2014
Subjects:
Online Access:http://irep.iium.edu.my/61858/
http://irep.iium.edu.my/61858/1/61858_Diagnosing%20and%20treatment%20of%20adrenocortical.pdf
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author Mat Nor, Mohd Basri
author_facet Mat Nor, Mohd Basri
author_sort Mat Nor, Mohd Basri
building IIUM Repository
collection Online Access
description In critically ill patients, activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis with the production of cortisol is crucial for survival under conditions of physiologic stress. The increase in cortisol production results in several important effects on metabolic, cardiovascular and immune aimed at restoring homeostasis during stress. However, in critical illness, HPA axis undergoes complex changes and the optimum level of plasma cortisol is unclear. In addition to activation of the HPA axis, cortisol metabolism and function may be significantly altered by various aspects of critical illness. There are conditions in which cortisol concentration cannot increase appropriately to meet demand. Assessment of cortisol activity in this group of patients is also difficult because laboratory assays of total plasma cortisol concentration and response to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation do not consistently reflect corticosteroid deficient at cellular level. It has been suggested that during critical illness, plasma cortisol concentration poorly reflect the glucocorticoid activity at target tissues. Venkatesh et al. has postulated that the spectrum of adrenocortical dysfunction in sepsis (from plasma to tissue) should be grouped under ‘sick euadrenal syndrome’ rather than an adrenocortical insufficiency.
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spelling iium-618582018-02-27T02:05:43Z http://irep.iium.edu.my/61858/ Diagnosing and treatment of adrenocortical insufficiency in the intensive care unit Mat Nor, Mohd Basri R Medicine (General) In critically ill patients, activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis with the production of cortisol is crucial for survival under conditions of physiologic stress. The increase in cortisol production results in several important effects on metabolic, cardiovascular and immune aimed at restoring homeostasis during stress. However, in critical illness, HPA axis undergoes complex changes and the optimum level of plasma cortisol is unclear. In addition to activation of the HPA axis, cortisol metabolism and function may be significantly altered by various aspects of critical illness. There are conditions in which cortisol concentration cannot increase appropriately to meet demand. Assessment of cortisol activity in this group of patients is also difficult because laboratory assays of total plasma cortisol concentration and response to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation do not consistently reflect corticosteroid deficient at cellular level. It has been suggested that during critical illness, plasma cortisol concentration poorly reflect the glucocorticoid activity at target tissues. Venkatesh et al. has postulated that the spectrum of adrenocortical dysfunction in sepsis (from plasma to tissue) should be grouped under ‘sick euadrenal syndrome’ rather than an adrenocortical insufficiency. Malaysian Society of Anaesthesiologists 2014 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://irep.iium.edu.my/61858/1/61858_Diagnosing%20and%20treatment%20of%20adrenocortical.pdf Mat Nor, Mohd Basri (2014) Diagnosing and treatment of adrenocortical insufficiency in the intensive care unit. Malaysian Society of Anaesthesiologists Yearbook 2013/2014, 2013/2014. pp. 60-67. http://www.msa.net.my/index.cfm?&menuid=52&parentid=55
spellingShingle R Medicine (General)
Mat Nor, Mohd Basri
Diagnosing and treatment of adrenocortical insufficiency in the intensive care unit
title Diagnosing and treatment of adrenocortical insufficiency in the intensive care unit
title_full Diagnosing and treatment of adrenocortical insufficiency in the intensive care unit
title_fullStr Diagnosing and treatment of adrenocortical insufficiency in the intensive care unit
title_full_unstemmed Diagnosing and treatment of adrenocortical insufficiency in the intensive care unit
title_short Diagnosing and treatment of adrenocortical insufficiency in the intensive care unit
title_sort diagnosing and treatment of adrenocortical insufficiency in the intensive care unit
topic R Medicine (General)
url http://irep.iium.edu.my/61858/
http://irep.iium.edu.my/61858/
http://irep.iium.edu.my/61858/1/61858_Diagnosing%20and%20treatment%20of%20adrenocortical.pdf