Hormonal and immunological pattern in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome related complex and Cushing's syndrome.
A case of Cushing's syndrome in a 24-yr-old homosexual with an AIDS-related complex is reported. In this patient certain symptoms common to both diseases, i.e. weakness, myalgia and muscle atrophy were accentuated, whereas other symptoms pathognomic of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, i.e. lymphoadenopathies and weight loss, were less pronounced by the high levels of circulating adrenal steroids. Ketoconazole was administered po in order to block adrenal steroidogenesis, the drug caused a remarkable fall of cortisol serum concentrations, but was unable to modify significantly the immunological pattern of the patient. Our data suggest that changes of serum adrenal steroid levels have little effect on the immune network of patients with AIDS.
Rossi
R
R
Cattedra di Endocrinologia, II Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università di Napoli, Italy.
Tommaselli
A P
AP
Panza
N
N
Ghiggi
M R
MR
Rezza
G
G
Giuliani
M
M
Suligoi
B
B
De Mercato
R
R
Lombardi
G
G
D000386:AIDS-Related Complex / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D000328:Adult; D003480:Cushing Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007654:Ketoconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D007654:Ketoconazole