Adrenal Flashcards
What are the chemicals that are synthesized by the adrenal cortex?
Mineralocorticoids
Glucocorticoids
Androgens
What are the two chemicals that are secreted by the medulla of the adrenal glands?
Epi and norepi (catecholamines)
What is the function of the mineralocorticoids (aldosterone)? (3)
Increases Na reabsorption in the collecting tubule
Increases K excretion
Increase BP
What are the physiological effects of glucocorticoids?
Restoring homeostasis after exposure to stress:
Increases BG levels
Counterbalance immune system
What are the two glucocorticoids?
Cortisol, hydrocortisone
What are the two drug targets of corticosteroid biosynthesis?
17 alpha hydroxlaye
11 beta hydroxylase
What are the relative levels of aldosterone and cortisol in the blood normally?
High cortisol, low aldosterone
What is the effect of ACTH that is release from the anterior pituitary on the adrenal cortex?
Increased steroidogenic enzyme expression
Stimulates production of cortisol and adrenal androgens
What is the problem with long term use of corticosteroids?
Steroid rebound
What is the MOA of glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids?
Freely cross the lipid membrane, and interact with receptors in the cytoplasm, and then enter the nucleus to alter expression
What is the intracellular messenger that is inhibited in glucocorticoid/mineralocorticoid use, to immune suppress pts?
NfKappaB
True or false: cortisol binds and activates mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids
True
What enzyme activates cortisol into inactive cortisone?
11beta HSD1
What is the enzyme that converts cortisone into cortisol?
11beta-HSD2
What is the function of 11beta HSD1?
Activates cortisone to cortisol
What is the function of 11beta HSD2?
Inactivates cortisol into cortisone
What are the two short acting glucocorticoids? Which effect is predominant: anti inflammatory or salt retention?
Hydrocortisone
Cortisone
Both equally
What are the four intermediate acting corticosteroids? Which effect is predominant: anti inflammatory or salt retention?
Prednisone
Prednisolone
Methylprednisolone
Triamcinolone
Anti inflammatory
What are the two long acting corticosteroids? Which effect is predominant: anti inflammatory or salt retention?
Betamethasone
Dexamethasone
No salt retention
What is the use of fludrocortisone?
Increase salt retention (BP)
What makes the glucocorticoids prodrugs?
Adding a hydroxyl group to the ring
Is dexamethasone a prodrug? Prednisolone? cortisone? Prednisone?
Prednisone and cortisone are.
What are the causes the Addison’s disease?
Autoimmune or TB causes deficiency in cortisol, aldosterone, and androgens
What happens to ACTH and CRH levels in primary (Addison’s) adrenal insufficiency? Aldosterone? Why? What does this lead to?
Elevated– adrenal cortex is lacking a mechanism for feedback
Aldosterone decreases, leading to K retention and Na loss
What is the treatment for Addison’s? (2)
Fludrocortisone and oral cortisol
What are the effects of Addison’s?
Hypotension from unresponsiveness of vascular smooth muscle to catecholamines
What are the two causes of secondary adrenal insufficiency? What are CRH and ACTH levels in these?
Either decrease in ACTH from pituitary, causing an increase in CRH, and a decrease in cortisol
OR
No CRH from the hypothalamus, lowering ACTH, and lower cortisol
What is the treatment for secondary adrenal insufficiency? Why?
Cortisol
NOT fludrocortisone, since aldosterone function is still retained
When is Glucocorticoid levels highest physiologically? What is the effect on the dosing regimen with this?
In the morning
Higher doses then
What is the cause of Cushing’s syndrome?
Chronic glucocorticoid excess
- Iatrogenic
- Pituitary tumor that secretes ACTH
- SCLC secretion of ACTH
- Adrenal tumor that hypersecrete cortisol
What are the ssx of Cushing’s?
- Buffalo hump
- Increased abdominal fat
- Muscle wasting
- Moon facies
- Poor wound healing
- Thinning of the skin
What happens to bones in Cushing’s?
Osteoporosis
What happens to BP with Cushing’s? Why?
Increased d/t increased cortisol levels in the adrenal cortex (swamped 11bHSD2)
What happens with CRH and ACTH with: pituitary hypersecretion of ACTH
Increased ACTH
Decreased CRH
What happens with CRH and ACTH with: adrenal adenoma?
Decreased in both ACTH and CRh
What happens with CRH and ACTH with: ectopic ACTH production
Decreased CRH
Increased ACTH from ectopic production
What happens if dexamethasone is injected into a pt wit pituitary hypersecretion of ACTH? Why?
Usually around 50% reduction in cortisol
The pituitary is still somewhat responsive to dexamethasone.
What happens if dexamethasone is injected into a pt with ectopic production of ACTH? Why?
No reduction in cortisol
ACTH secreting adenoma has no regulatory function like the pituitary
What happens if dexamethasone is injected into a pt with adrenal adenoma? Why?
No reduction is cortisol
Tumors in the adrenal cortex would have no regulatory function with dexamethasone
What is the MOA of ketoconazole in treating Cushing’s?
Inhibits 17 alpha hydroxylase, which can lower cortisol production.