View clinical trials related to Adrenal Insufficiency.
Filter by:The aim is to investigate impact of exogenous estrogens on cotisol Levels during synacthen stimulation in female hypogonal patients on estrogen substitution. Both patients with and withour adrenal insufficiency will be studied
Adrenal insufficiency is a condition where the adrenal glands do not produce an adequate amount of steroid hormones. The aetiology of adrenal insufficiency can be primary or secondary. Patients will adrenal insufficiency have increased morbidity and mortality. In recent years there has been concern regarding what is the optimal dose and regimen of steroid replacement for patients. Unfortunately there is no accurate way of monitoring if a patient is on too much or too little steroid. We have shown in hypopituitary patients with secondary adrenal insufficiency that higher doses of hydrocortisone may be harmful. This reason for this is not fully understood. In recent years, a modified release hydrocortisone tablet (Plenadren) taken once per day (unlike conventional immediate release hydrocortisone which requires twice or thrice daily regimen) has come on the market. This tablet has shown to a have a steroid profile that more closely resembles normal physiology, avoiding the peak steroid levels that occur during thrice daily regimens, which may be of importance for improving outcome in adrenal insufficiency patients. It also shown improved cardiovascular risk factors, glucose metabolism and quality of life in compared to conventional treatment. The aim of our study is to assess the effect of hydrocortisone therapy on how the body uses and breaks down (metabolises) steroids. This will be done by several different research methods: by measuring markers of steroid action and metabolism in blood, urine and within the fat tissue under the skin in the abdomen. These results will be compared in the same patient while on their usual hydrocortisone and after switching to modified release hydrocortisone for 12 weeks, and to results from a normal healthy control group who are not on steroid replacement. This will be the first study to assess the impact of this new modified release hydrocortisone in relation to tissue steroid metabolism. The results will potentially help us to improve the treatment of patients with steroid deficiency and reduce the side effects seen in these patients.
Despite optimized hydrocortisone replacement regimes, many patients with adrenal insufficiency (AI) suffer from impaired quality of life (QoL). Characteristically, patients report high fatigue levels at certain times during the day. A modified-release hydrocortisone has been shown to improve QoL, particularly fatigue, in patients with primary AI. However, it is unknown, if the same effect can be observed in patients with secondary AI. Further, no studies have evaluated the effect, taking into account the diurnal variation of fatigue. A novel survey method termed Ecological Momentary Assessments (EMA) has the potential to provide reliable measurements of diurnal variations in patient-reported outcomes, such as fatigue. We will compare the effect of modified-release compared to conventional hydrocortisone on fatigue in patients with secondary AI due to pituitary disease, and hereby assess the feasibility of EMA as outcome in future large-scale randomised clinical trials (RCTs).