title: Gastrointestinal presentation of relative adrenal insufficiency in a sick preterm neonate.
abstract: We report a sick preterm neonate with a dramatic ileus presentation mimicking necrotizing enterocolitis that promptly reversed upon hydrocortisone supplementation. Because our case illustrates a previously unsuspected clinical visage of inadequate adrenal responses in sick preterm neonates, it also emphasizes the need for improved diagnostic algorithms to identify neonates who could potentially benefit from treatment while avoiding the morbid consequences of unwarranted corticosteroids use in this population.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's & Women's Health Centre of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Pascal M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Lavoie
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pelligra
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lupton
authors.forename: Horacio
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Osiovich
mesh_terms: D000309:Adrenal Insufficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000188:drug therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004200:Diseases in Twins; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D045823:Ileus / Q000209:etiology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D006854:Hydrocortisone