title: Adrenocortical dysfunction in liver disease: a systematic review.
abstract: In patients with cirrhosis, adrenal insufficiency (AI) is reported during sepsis and septic shock and is associated with increased mortality. Consequently, the term "hepato-adrenal syndrome" was proposed. Some studies have shown that AI is frequent in stable cirrhosis as well as in cirrhosis associated with decompensation other than sepsis, such as bleeding and ascites. Moreover, other studies showed a high prevalence in liver transplant recipients immediately after, or some time after, liver transplantation. The effect of corticosteroid therapy in critically ill patients with liver disease has been evaluated in some studies, but the results remain controversial. The 250-μg adreno-cortico-tropic-hormone stimulation test to diagnose AI in critically ill adult patients is recommended by an international task force. However, in liver disease, there is no consensus on the appropriate tests and normal values to assess adrenal function; thus, standardization of normal ranges and methodology is needed. Serum total cortisol assays overestimate AI in patients with cirrhosis, so that direct free cortisol measurement or its surrogates may be useful measurements to define AI, but further studies are needed to clarify this. In addition, the mechanisms by which liver disease leads to adrenal dysfunction are not sufficiently documented. This review evaluates published data regarding adrenal function in patients with liver disease, with a particular focus on the potential limitations of these studies as well as suggestions for future studies.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine, University of Catania-Garibaldi Hospital, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fede
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Spadaro
authors.forename: Tania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tomaselli
authors.forename: Graziella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Privitera
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Germani
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tsochatzis
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Pierre-Marc
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Bouloux
authors.forename: Andrew K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Burroughs
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Purrello
mesh_terms: D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000309:Adrenal Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone