Diagnosis and approach to glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency and glucocorticoid withdrawal syndrome

Introduction and purpose: Primary adrenal insufficiency can result from diseases affecting the adrenal glands, while secondary adrenal insufficiency is caused by suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. The most common cause of adrenal suppression is exogenous steroids, a condition r...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Aleksandra Kiełczewska, Grzegorz Szcześniak, Anna Kiełczewska
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Kazimierz Wielki University 2024-11-01
Series:Journal of Education, Health and Sport
Subjects:
Online Access:https://apcz.umk.pl/JEHS/article/view/55790
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850180234584784896
author Aleksandra Kiełczewska
Grzegorz Szcześniak
Anna Kiełczewska
author_facet Aleksandra Kiełczewska
Grzegorz Szcześniak
Anna Kiełczewska
author_sort Aleksandra Kiełczewska
collection DOAJ
description Introduction and purpose: Primary adrenal insufficiency can result from diseases affecting the adrenal glands, while secondary adrenal insufficiency is caused by suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. The most common cause of adrenal suppression is exogenous steroids, a condition recently termed glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency (GIAI). Glucocorticoid-induced adrenal suppression is a common adverse effect of glucocorticoid therapy, which can have severe consequences. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the diagnosis and management of glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency and glucocorticoid withdrawal syndrome. Material and methods: An extensive examination of articles published in scientific journals was carried out through online research  platforms PubMed and Google Scholar.  We searched articles by entering keywords in appropriate configuration: “glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency”, “glucocorticoids”, “steroids”, “adrenal crisis”, “substitution therapy”, “glucocorticoid withdrawal”. Description of the state of knowledge: Glucocorticoids are widely used in the treatment of various inflammatory and autoimmune disorders due to their potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects. However, chronic glucocorticoid therapy can lead to a number of adverse effects, including adrenal suppression, which can result in adrenal insufficiency. Summary: Primary care clinicians should recognize the high prevalence of glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency in patients receiving non-oral glucocorticoid formulations. The glucocorticoid withdrawal syndrome exhibits symptoms analogous to glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency. Additional data on the morbidity and mortality linked to glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency is needed to comprehend the associated health risks, which will ultimately guide the approach to care for patients tapering long-term glucocorticoid therapy.
format Article
id doaj-art-0db692bd812c47c886fb08fc5a4b1fe8
institution OA Journals
issn 2391-8306
language English
publishDate 2024-11-01
publisher Kazimierz Wielki University
record_format Article
series Journal of Education, Health and Sport
spelling doaj-art-0db692bd812c47c886fb08fc5a4b1fe82025-08-20T02:18:15ZengKazimierz Wielki UniversityJournal of Education, Health and Sport2391-83062024-11-017010.12775/JEHS.2024.70.55790Diagnosis and approach to glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency and glucocorticoid withdrawal syndromeAleksandra Kiełczewska0Grzegorz Szcześniak1Anna Kiełczewska2Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital Research InstituteIndependent Provincial Hospital named after Nicolaus Copernicus in Piotrków Trybunalski, ul. Rakowska 15 97-300 Piotrków Trybunalski, PolandMedical University of Warsaw, ul Żwirki i Wigury 61, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland Introduction and purpose: Primary adrenal insufficiency can result from diseases affecting the adrenal glands, while secondary adrenal insufficiency is caused by suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. The most common cause of adrenal suppression is exogenous steroids, a condition recently termed glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency (GIAI). Glucocorticoid-induced adrenal suppression is a common adverse effect of glucocorticoid therapy, which can have severe consequences. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the diagnosis and management of glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency and glucocorticoid withdrawal syndrome. Material and methods: An extensive examination of articles published in scientific journals was carried out through online research  platforms PubMed and Google Scholar.  We searched articles by entering keywords in appropriate configuration: “glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency”, “glucocorticoids”, “steroids”, “adrenal crisis”, “substitution therapy”, “glucocorticoid withdrawal”. Description of the state of knowledge: Glucocorticoids are widely used in the treatment of various inflammatory and autoimmune disorders due to their potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects. However, chronic glucocorticoid therapy can lead to a number of adverse effects, including adrenal suppression, which can result in adrenal insufficiency. Summary: Primary care clinicians should recognize the high prevalence of glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency in patients receiving non-oral glucocorticoid formulations. The glucocorticoid withdrawal syndrome exhibits symptoms analogous to glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency. Additional data on the morbidity and mortality linked to glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency is needed to comprehend the associated health risks, which will ultimately guide the approach to care for patients tapering long-term glucocorticoid therapy. https://apcz.umk.pl/JEHS/article/view/55790glucocorticoid withdrawalsubstitution therapyadrenal crisissteroidsglucocorticoidsglucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency
spellingShingle Aleksandra Kiełczewska
Grzegorz Szcześniak
Anna Kiełczewska
Diagnosis and approach to glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency and glucocorticoid withdrawal syndrome
Journal of Education, Health and Sport
glucocorticoid withdrawal
substitution therapy
adrenal crisis
steroids
glucocorticoids
glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency
title Diagnosis and approach to glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency and glucocorticoid withdrawal syndrome
title_full Diagnosis and approach to glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency and glucocorticoid withdrawal syndrome
title_fullStr Diagnosis and approach to glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency and glucocorticoid withdrawal syndrome
title_full_unstemmed Diagnosis and approach to glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency and glucocorticoid withdrawal syndrome
title_short Diagnosis and approach to glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency and glucocorticoid withdrawal syndrome
title_sort diagnosis and approach to glucocorticoid induced adrenal insufficiency and glucocorticoid withdrawal syndrome
topic glucocorticoid withdrawal
substitution therapy
adrenal crisis
steroids
glucocorticoids
glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency
url https://apcz.umk.pl/JEHS/article/view/55790
work_keys_str_mv AT aleksandrakiełczewska diagnosisandapproachtoglucocorticoidinducedadrenalinsufficiencyandglucocorticoidwithdrawalsyndrome
AT grzegorzszczesniak diagnosisandapproachtoglucocorticoidinducedadrenalinsufficiencyandglucocorticoidwithdrawalsyndrome
AT annakiełczewska diagnosisandapproachtoglucocorticoidinducedadrenalinsufficiencyandglucocorticoidwithdrawalsyndrome