Temporary adrenal dysfunction with descending thoracic aortic occlusion.
BACKGROUND
We sought to determine whether descending thoracic aortic occlusion (DTAOC) induced ischemia results in adrenal dysfunction.


METHODS
Eight pigs underwent DTAOC for 45 min. Six control pigs underwent a sham procedure. Serum cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) were measured at baseline, at the end of DTAOC, 30 and 60 min after restoration of flow, and 24 hours later. Statistical analysis was performed using repeated measures ANOVA and t-test.


RESULTS
In the study group, cortisol levels decreased during DTAOC (p=0.048) and 30 min after flow restoration (p=0.004). In the control group there was no change in serum cortisol levels. In the study group the drop in serum cortisol was associated with an increase in ACTH levels during DTAOC (p=0.040) and 30 minutes after flow restoration (p=0.070). The increase in ACTH was also significant when compared to the controls during DTAOC (p=0.030) and 30 min after blood flow restoration (p=0.040).


CONCLUSIONS
There is a transient period of adrenal dysfunction associated with DTAOC that results in stimulation of the pituitary-adrenal axis.
Department of Cardiac Surgery, University of Athens, Attikon Hospital Center, Athens, Greece.
Petros V
PV
Anagnostopoulos
Ioannis K
IK
Toumpoulis
Alexander D
AD
Shepard
George E
GE
Drossos
Agathoclis
A
Tsatsoulis
Constantine E
CE
Anagnostopoulos
D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000309:Adrenal Insufficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic; D021721:Balloon Occlusion / Q000009:adverse effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007511:Ischemia / Q000209:etiology; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013552:Swine
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone