Acute adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)/cortisol deficiency occurs in 10-15% of TBI patients and can present with a biochemical picture identical to SIAD.
Adrenal steroid precursor concentrations before and 60 minutes after ACTH administration to 24 untreated patients with CAH (3 to 46 years) with proven cortisol deficiency (<500 nmol/L post-ACTH) measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry were compared with six control patients (Mann-Whitney U test).
At least one anterior pituitary axis was affected in 73% of the cohort: 59% had growth hormone deficiency, 56% hypogonadism, 55% central hypothyroidism, 44% adrenocorticotropic hormone-cortisol deficiency.
The consequent cortisol deficiency results in a compensatory increase in adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) drive, which stimulates the production of deoxycorticosterone and corticosterone leading to hypertension and hypokalaemia.
As ACTH stimulation has been shown to stimulate aldosterone release in normal controls, and other causes of hyponatraemia can occur in children with cortisol deficiency, we investigated whether MC2R changes might be identified in children with primary adrenal failure who were being treated for mineralocorticoid insufficiency.
When ACTH or GH deficiency or both deficiencies are present, hypoglycemia and cortisol deficiency can lead to neonatal and infantile death or increased morbidity.
We report the progressive CPHD and its molecular etiology in a woman with CPHD presenting with first symptoms of ACTH/cortisol deficiency at the age of 48 years.
Six patients presented with hypoglycaemia and other evidence of cortisol deficiency between 2.5 and 8 years of age; however, two others became cortisol deficient after initial testing showed normal cortisol responses to ACTH, evidence that the glucocorticoid insufficiency of this syndrome may not be congenital, but may develop as late as the third decade.