Adrenal/steroids Flashcards
When does physiological cortisol peak?
6-9am
Which factors have a positive feedback on cortisol production?
stress, Adr/NA, ghrelin
Which drugs have a negative feedback on cortisol production?
opioids
Which autoantibodies exist in >90% of addison’s patients?
21-hydroxylase
Which complications of addison’s disease should you be wary of?
Other autoimmune conditions, e.g. vitligo, coeliac disease, adrenal crisis
What are triggers for adrenal crisis?
acute stress, infection, haemorrhage
How to clinically distinguish primary adrenal insufficiency from secondary and tertiary? (signs)
no hyperpigmentation and no dehydration in 2+3
What would be the initial management plan for someone with suspected hypoadrenalism?
IV fluids, IV hydrocortisone, DVT prophylaxis, antiemetic
What are the causes of hypoadrenalism?
- Infections (TB, meningococcal)
- Drugs
- Metastatic destruction of adrenal glands
- Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
What is the protocol for short synacthen test?
- Ensure no glucocorticoid therapy given that morning
- Early morning ACTH and cortisol levels taken
- Dose of synthetic ACTH 250 micrograms
- Blood taken 30 min post ACTH
Which condition that arises in pregnancy can result in adrenal insufficiency?
Sheehan syndrome. life-threatening amount of blood in childbirth or who have severe low blood pressure during or after childbirth, which can deprive the body of oxygen. This lack of oxygen that causes damage to the pituitary gland
Which drug prescription can induce adrenal insufficiency?
steroids
In secondary and tertiary adrenal insufficiency, are mineralcorticoids still produced?
yes
Which is the most common cause of adrenal insufficiency in children?
congenital adrenal hyperplasia
What happens to the levels of Na and K in adrenal insuffiency?
Decreased Na and incr K
Why does bronzing occur in primary adrenal insufficiency?
ACTH stimulates melanocytes
Name two symptoms of adrenal insuffiency
muscle cramps, N/V
What is the treatment for adrenal insufficiency?
hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone
Is fluodrocortisone necessary in secondary and tertiary adrenal insufficiency?
unnecessary
If a patient with addison’s disease is sick, how should this affect their routine medications?
double dosage of corticoseroids but maintain the fludrocortisone dose
Two catabolic effects of cushing’s syndrome
Proximal myopathy
Striae
Bruising
Osteoporosis
Two glucocorticoid effects of cushing’s
DM
obesity
Two mineralcorticoid effects of cushing’s?
HTN
hypokalaemia
Describe three features of the appearance of someone with cushing’s
Moon face Acne and hirsutism Interscapular and supraclavicular fat pads Centripetal obesity Striae Thin limbs Bruising Thin skin
How is cushing’s syndrome categorised/divided?
ACTH independent
ACTH dependent
Two differentials for ACTH independent cushing’s?
Iatrogenic steroids: commonest cause
Adrenal adenoma / Ca: carcinoma often → virilisation
Adrenal nodular hyperplasia
Two differentials for ACTH dependent cushing’s?
cushing’s disease
ectopic-ACTH
An example of ectopic-ACTH cause?
SCLC
Carcinoid tumour
Two investigations for cushing’s syndrome?
24hr urinary free cortisol
Late night serum or salivary cortisol
Dexamethasone suppression test
ACTH
Which condition would show cortisol suppression in dexamethasone suppression test?
cushing’s disease only
Explain the dexamethasone suppression test
low dose test- confirms cushing’s syndrome
high dose test
-low cortisol= cushing’s disease
- high cortisol- high ACTH= ectopic ACTH, low ACTH= adrenal cushings, iatrogenic
What is cushing’s disease?
pituitary adenoma producing excess ACTH
What is conn’s syndrome?
adrenocorticol adenoma
Two causes of primary hyperaldosteronism?
bilateral adrenal hyperplasia
adrenocortical adenoma= conn’ syndrome
Which biochemical abnormality is present in hyperaldosteronism?
hypokalaemia
Two causes of secondary hyperaldosteronism?
diuretics nephrotic syndrome hepatic failure CCF RAS abnormalities
Brief pathophysiology of hyperaldosteronism?
increases renin concentration due to reduced renal perfusion
How can you distinguish between primary and secondary hyperaldosteronism?
aldosterone: renin ratio
Raised in primary
Normal in secondary
Two symptoms of hyperaldosteornism?
HTN
weakness, hypotonia, cramps- hypokalaemia
What are the effects of aldosterone?
increases expression in Na/K ATPase and eNaC following steroid receptor activation which results in the transcription of these channels in the distal convoluted tubule (and collecting duct)