title: Adrenal function in the human immunodeficiency virus-infected patient.
abstract: Although clinical manifestations of adrenal dysfunction are uncommon in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), subclinical functional abnormalities of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis are frequent. Patients infected with HIV usually have higher basal serum cortisol and lower serum dehydroepiandrosterone concentrations than HIV-seronegative individuals. This imbalance has been related to progression of the infection by inducing a shift from T(H)1 to T(H)2 immunologic responses. Although, adrenal reserve may be marginal in HIV-infected patients, clinically evident adrenal insufficiency is uncommon and, when present, it is observed in advanced stages of the infection. Hypocortisolemia should be treated regardless of the existence of associated symptoms. On the contrary, hypercortisolemia in the absence of features of Cushing syndrome is common and should not promote treatment nor specific studies. The possible influence that alterations of the adrenal function could have on the patients' immune status and the eventual effect of antiretrovirals on these alterations merit further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Section of Infectious Diseases, Hospital de Galdakao, 48960 Vizcaya, Spain.
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mayo
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Collazos
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: Sofía
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ibarra
mesh_terms: D000309:Adrenal Insufficiency / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology*; D000308:Adrenocortical Hyperfunction / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology*; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000821:virology; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents