Diagnostic predicament of secondary adrenal insufficiency.
OBJECTIVE
To propose an approach for the diagnosis of secondary adrenal insufficiency (AI) by presentation of 2 clinical cases and review of the literature.


METHODS
We describe 2 patients who were considered to have a normal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis on the basis of an appropriate response to the high-dose (250 microg) cosyntropin stimulation test (HST), with use of a cutoff value of 20 microg/dL. Our first patient had undergone resection of a 4-cm pituitary tumor a few months previously, and the second patient had hyponatremia with empty sella syndrome. Both patients, however, had strong clinical evidence suggestive of secondary AI. On testing by the insulin tolerance test (ITT) in the first patient and the overnight metyrapone test (OMT) in the second patient, secondary AI was diagnosed. We reviewed the literature to compare the utility of the different tests for the diagnosis of secondary AI.


RESULTS
An 8 AM serum cortisol value less than 5 microg/dL or above 13 microg/dL and a stimulated cortisol level less than 16 microg/dL on both the low-dose cosyntropin stimulation test (LST) and the HST as well as above 22 microg/dL on the LST and above 30 microg/dL on the HST can reliably predict the functional status of the hypothalamic-pituitaryadrenal axis in chronic secondary AI. Values between these cutoff points may necessitate further assessment with the OMT or ITT based on clinical suspicion.


CONCLUSIONS
We recommend a 3-step diagnostic approach, with the first 2 steps performed together-starting with the 8 AM basal cortisol determination in conjunction with either the LST (preferably) or the HST. In cases of an indeterminate response coupled with a strong clinical suspicion, the final step should be definitive testing with the OMT or ITT.
Santhanam
Prasanna
P
Section of Endocrinology, Marshall University School of Medicine, Huntington, West Virginia 25701, USA. prasanna@marshall.edu
Saleem
Saba Faiz
SF
Saleem
Tipu Faiz
TF
D000236:Adenoma / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D000309:Adrenal Insufficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003366:Cosyntropin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004652:Empty Sella Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007010:Hyponatremia / Q000150:complications; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D007328:Insulin / Q000009:adverse effects; D010900:Pituitary Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology
D007328:Insulin; D003366:Cosyntropin