title: Long-term low-dose glucocorticoid therapy in hyperandrogenized women: utility and effects on bone mineral content and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical function.
abstract: The effect of chronic low-dose glucocorticoid administration on bone mineral content and corticotrope reserve was investigated in 12 hyperandrogenized women treated with 1-6 mg oral evening doses of 16 beta-methylprednisone for 12-58 months. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis was evaluated in 9 patients by a standard metyrapone test after 45-75 days off steroid therapy. All the patients had a normal rise in serum 11-deoxycortisol after metyrapone. Bone densitometry was assessed at the end of therapy using dual photon absorptiometry. No significant differences between patients and age-matched hyperandrogenic controls were found either in spine (1.048 +/- 0.096 vs. 1.023 +/- 0.175 g/cm2) or femoral neck (0.863 +/- 0.115 vs. 0.899 +/- 0.216 g/cm2), respectively. In conclusion, absence of quantitative bone mass reduction and normal corticotrope reserve were observed even after 58 months of daily steroid administration.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Hospital de Clinicas José de San Martin, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: L N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Contreras
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Zanchetta
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kral
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Masini
authors.forename: O D
authors.initials: OD
authors.lastname: Bruno
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D003350:Cortodoxone / Q000097:blood; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects*; D008797:Metyrapone; D008875:Middle Aged; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000187:drug effects*; D011241:Prednisone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors; D014770:Virilism / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; C008352:meprednisone; D011241:Prednisone; D003350:Cortodoxone; D008797:Metyrapone