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Sriharsha Gunna Department of Endocrinology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India

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Mahaveer Singh Department of Endocrinology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India

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Rakesh Pandey Department of Pathology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India

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Rungmei S K Marak Department of Microbiology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India

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Amita Aggarwal Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India

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Bibhuti Mohanta Department of Endocrinology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India

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Liping Yu Barbara Davis Centre for Diabetes, School of Medicine University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA

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Eesh Bhatia Department of Endocrinology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India

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The etiology, presentation and mortality of patients with primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI) in developing countries may differ from economically developed nations. However, information in this regard is scanty. The aim of this study was to determine the etiology and compare the clinical characteristics and mortality in infectious and autoimmune causes of PAI in Indian patients. All eligible (n = 89) patients (ages 15–83 years) diagnosed with PAI between 2006 and 2019 were studied. Patients were followed for a median duration of 5.9 (range 0.1–15.7) years. Eighty-six subjects underwent an abdominal computerized tomography scan or ultrasonography, and adrenal biopsy was performed in 60 patients. The most frequent etiologies of PAI were adrenal histoplasmosis (AH, 45%), adrenal tuberculosis (AT, 15%), autoimmunity (AI, 25%) and primary lymphoma (6%). Forty-two percent of patients presented with an acute adrenal crisis. AH and AT could not be differentiated on the basis of clinical features, except for a greater frequency of hepatomegaly–splenomegaly and type 2 diabetes mellitus (63% vs 15%, P < 0.01) in the former. Patients with an autoimmune etiology had a higher frequency of 21-hydroxylase antibodies (41% vs 3%) and autoimmune thyroid disease (46% vs 5%) vs those with infectious etiologies. Mortality was significantly higher in AH (45%) compared with AT (8%) or AI (5%) (P = 0.001). Causes of death included adrenal crises, progressive AH and unexplained acute events occurring at home. In conclusion, infections, especially AH, were the most frequent cause of PAI in north India. Despite appropriate therapy, AH had very high mortality as compared with AT and AI.

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Sophie Howarth Clinical and Translational Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Department of Endocrinology, The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

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Luca Giovanelli Department of Endocrinology, The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

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Catherine Napier Department of Endocrinology, The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

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Simon H Pearce Clinical and Translational Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Department of Endocrinology, The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

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Autoimmune Addison’s disease (AAD) is defined as primary adrenal insufficiency due to immune-mediated destruction of the adrenal cortex. This destruction of steroid-producing cells has historically been thought of as an irreversible process, with linear progression from an ACTH-driven compensated phase to overt adrenal insufficiency requiring lifelong glucocorticoid replacement. However, a growing body of evidence suggests that this process may be more heterogeneous than previously thought, with potential for complete or partial recovery of glucocorticoid secretion. Although patients with persistent mineralocorticoid deficiency despite preserved or recovered glucocorticoid function are anecdotally mentioned, few well-documented cases have been reported to date. We present three patients in the United Kingdom who further challenge the long-standing hypothesis that AAD is a progressive, irreversible disease process. We describe one patient with a 4-year history of mineralocorticoid-only Addison’s disease, a patient with spontaneous recovery of adrenal function and one patient with clinical features of adrenal insufficiency despite significant residual cortisol function. All three patients show varying degrees of mineralocorticoid deficiency, suggesting that recovery of zona fasciculata function in the adrenal cortex may occur independently to that of the zona glomerulosa. We outline the current evidence for heterogeneity in the natural history of AAD and discuss possible mechanisms for the recovery of adrenal function.

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Natacha Driessens Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles (HUB), CUB Hôpital Erasme, Department of Endocrinology, Route de Lennik, Brussels, Belgium

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Madhu Prasai Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles (HUB), CUB Hôpital Erasme, Department of Endocrinology, Route de Lennik, Brussels, Belgium

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Orsalia Alexopoulou Department of Endocrinology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint Luc, Brussels, Belgium

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Christophe De Block Department of Endocrinology-Diabetology-Metabolism, Universitair Ziekenhuis Antwerpen & University of Antwerp, Drie Eikenstraat, Edegem, Belgium

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Eva Van Caenegem Department of Endocrinology, Academisch Ziekenhuis Sint-Jan Brugge – Oostende AV, Ruddershove, Brugge, Belgium

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Guy T’Sjoen Department of Endocrinology, Ghent Universitary Hospital, C. Heymanslaan, Gent, Belgium

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Frank Nobels Department of Endocrinology, Onze-Lieve Vrouw Ziekenhuis, Moorselbaan, Aalst, Belgium

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Christophe Ghys Department of Endocrinology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Laarbeeklaan, Brussels, Belgium

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Laurent Vroonen Department of Endocrinology, Cliniques Universitaires de Liège, Avenue de l’hôpital, Liège, Belgium

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Corinne Jonas Department of Endocrinology, CHU UCL Namur - Godinne, Avenue Docteur Gaston Thérasse, Yvoir, Belgium

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Bernard Corvilain Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles (HUB), CUB Hôpital Erasme, Department of Endocrinology, Route de Lennik, Brussels, Belgium

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Dominique Maiter Department of Endocrinology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint Luc, Brussels, Belgium

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Objective

Primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI) is a rare disease with an increasing prevalence, which may be complicated by life-threatening adrenal crisis (AC). Good quality epidemiological data remain scarce. We performed a Belgian survey to describe the aetiology, clinical characteristics, treatment regimens, comorbidities and frequency of AC in PAI.

Methods

A nationwide multicentre study involving 10 major university hospitals in Belgium collected data from adult patients with known PAI.

Results

Two hundred patients were included in this survey. The median age at diagnosis was 38 years (IQR 25–48) with a higher female prevalence (F/M sex ratio = 1.53). The median disease duration was 13 years (IQR 7–25). Autoimmune disease was the most common aetiology (62.5%) followed by bilateral adrenalectomy (23.5%) and genetic variations (8.5%). The majority (96%) of patients were treated with hydrocortisone at a mean daily dose of 24.5 ± 7.0 mg, whereas 87.5% of patients also received fludrocortisone. About one-third of patients experienced one or more AC over the follow-up period, giving an incidence of 3.2 crises per 100 patient-years. There was no association between the incidence of AC and the maintenance dose of hydrocortisone. As high as 27.5% of patients were hypertensive, 17.5% had diabetes and 17.5% had a diagnosis of osteoporosis.

Conclusion

This study provides the first information on the management of PAI in large clinical centres in Belgium, showing an increased frequency of postsurgical PAI, a nearly normal prevalence of several comorbidities and an overall good quality of care with a low incidence of adrenal crises, compared with data from other registries.

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Clara Lundetoft Clausen Center of Research & Disruption of Infectious Diseases, Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Amager and Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark

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Trine Holm Johannsen Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark

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Niels Erik Skakkebæk Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark

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Hanne Frederiksen Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark

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Anders Juul Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

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Thomas Benfield Center of Research & Disruption of Infectious Diseases, Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital - Amager and Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark
Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

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In the context of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) illness, we examined endogenous glucocorticoid concentrations, steroidogenic enzyme activity, and their correlation with inflammation and patient outcomes. This observational study included 125 hospitalized COVID-19 patients and 101 healthy individuals as a reference group. We utilized LC-MS to assess serum concentrations of 11-deoxycortisol, cortisol, and cortisone, as well as activities of steroidogenic enzymes (11β-hydroxylase and 11β-hydroxysteroid-dehydrogenase type 1). Cox proportional hazards regression analysis and competing risk analysis were employed to analyze associations between glucocorticoid concentrations and outcomes, adjusting for relevant factors. In patients with COVID-19, cortisol concentrations were higher and cortisone concentrations were lower compared to the reference group, while 11-deoxycortisol concentrations were similar. Steroidogenic enzyme activity favored cortisol production. Correlations between glucocorticoid concentrations and inflammatory markers were low. A doubling in concentrations cortisol, was associated with increased 90-day mortality and mechanical ventilation (HR: 2.40 95% CI: (1.03–5.59) , P = 0.042 and HR: 3.83 (1.19–12.31), P = 0.024). A doubling in concentrations of 11-deoxycortisol was also associated to mortality (HR: 1.32 (1.05–1.67), P = 0.018), whereas concentrations of cortisone were associated with mechanical ventilation (HR: 5.09 (1.49–17.40), P = 0.009). In conclusion, serum concentrations of glucocorticoid metabolites were altered in patients hospitalized with severe COVID-19, and steroidogenic enzyme activity resulting in the conversion of cortisone to biologically active cortisol was preserved, thus not favoring critical-illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency at the enzymatic level. Glucocorticoid release did not counterbalance the hyperinflammatory state in patients with severe COVID-19. High serum concentrations of 11-deoxycortisol and cortisol were associated with 90-day mortality, and high serum concentrations of cortisol and cortisone were associated with mechanical ventilation.

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Gregory Knowles Walsall Manor Hospital, Walsall, UK

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Emily Warmington College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK

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Lisa M Shepherd Department of Endocrinology, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK

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Jonathan M Hazlehurst Department of Endocrinology, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK

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Anne de Bray Department of Endocrinology, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK

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Helena Gleeson Department of Endocrinology, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK

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Wiebke Arlt Department of Endocrinology, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
Medical Research Council London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, UK

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Alessandro Prete Department of Endocrinology, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre, University of Birmingham and University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK

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Objective

Patients with primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI) are thought to be particularly vulnerable to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); however, little is known about its true impact on this group. We assessed morbidity and health promotion attitudes during the pandemic amongst a large cohort of patients with PAI.

Design

Cross-sectional, single-centre study.

Methods

In May 2020, COVID-19 advice on social distancing and sick-day rules was distributed to all patients with PAI registered with a large secondary/tertiary care centre. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to survey patients in early 2021.

Results

Of 207 contacted patients, 162 responded (82/111 with Addison’s disease, AD; 80/96 with congenital adrenal hyperplasia, CAH). Patients with AD were older than those with CAH (median age 51 vs 39 years; P < 0.001) and had more comorbidities (Charlson comorbidity index ≥2 47.6% vs 10.0%; P< 0.001). By the time of the survey, 47 patients (29.0%) had been diagnosed with COVID-19, the second commonest cause of sick-day dosing during the study and the leading trigger of adrenal crises (4/18 cases). Patients with CAH had a higher risk of COVID-19 compared to AD (adjusted odds ratio 2.53 (95% CI 1.07–6.16), P= 0.036), were less inclined to have the COVID-19 vaccine (80.0% vs 96.3%; P = 0.001), and were less likely to have undergone hydrocortisone self-injection training (80.0% vs 91.5%; P = 0.044) or wear medical alert jewellery (36.3% vs 64.6%; P = 0.001).

Conclusions

COVID-19 was a principal trigger for adrenal crises and sick-day dosing in patients with PAI. Despite a higher risk of COVID-19, patients with CAH showed less engagement with self-protective attitudes.

Significance statement

We conducted a cross-sectional study on a large and well-characterised group of patients with PAI and demonstrated that COVID-19 was a leading cause of morbidity during the early phases of the pandemic. Patients with AD were older and had a greater burden of comorbidity than those with CAH, including non-adrenal autoimmune disorders. However, patients with CAH were more likely to develop COVID-19 and demonstrated reduced engagement with healthcare services and health promotion strategies.

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Marta Fichna Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland

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Piotr P Małecki Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland

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Magdalena Żurawek Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland

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Katarzyna Furman Ludwik Perzyna Regional Hospital, Kalisz, Poland

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Bolesław Gębarski Regional Outpatient Medical Centre, Katowice, Poland

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Piotr Fichna Department of Paediatric Diabetes and Obesity, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland

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Marek Ruchała Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland

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Since individuals with Addison’s disease (AD) present considerable co-occurrence of additional autoimmune conditions, clustering of autoimmunity was also predicted among their relatives. The study was aimed to assess circulating autoantibodies in first-degree relatives of patients with AD and to correlate them with the established genetic risk factors (PTPN22 rs2476601, CTLA4 rs231775, and BACH2 rs3757247). Antibodies were evaluated using validated commercial assays, and genotyping was performed using TaqMan chemistry. The studied cohort comprised 112 female and 75 male relatives. Circulating autoantibodies were found in 69 relatives (36.9%). Thyroid autoantibodies, that is antibodies to thyroid peroxidase (aTPO) and thyroglobulin (aTg), were detectable in 25.1 and 17.1% relatives, respectively. Antibodies to 21-hydroxylase (a21OH) were found in 5.8% individuals, and beta cell-specific antibodies to ZnT8, GAD, and IA2 were found in 7.5, 8.0, and 2.7%, respectively. The prevalence of a21OH (P = 0.0075; odds ratio (OR) 7.68; 95% CI 1.903–36.0), aTPO (P < 0.0001; OR 3.85; 95% CI 1.873–7.495), and aTg (P < 0.0001; OR 7.73; 95% CI 3.112–19.65), as well as aGAD (P = 0.0303; OR 3.38; 95% CI 1.180–9.123) and aZnT8 (P = 0.032; OR 6.40; 95% CI 1.846–21.91), was significantly increased in carriers of rs2476601 T allele. Moreover, T allele appeared to be a risk factor for multiple circulating autoantibody specificities (P = 0.0009; OR 5.79; 95% CI 1.962–15.81). None of the studied autoantibodies demonstrated significant association with rs231775 in CTLA4 (P > 0.05), and only weak association was detected between BACH2 rs3757247 and circulating aTPO (P = 0.0336; OR 2.12; 95%CI 1.019–4.228). In conclusion, first-degree relatives of patients with AD, carriers of the PTPN22 rs2476601 T allele, are at particular risk of developing autoantibodies to endocrine antigens.

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