MedTrace Logo

Adrenal Function in Critical Illness

NCT00156767 · Status: COMPLETED · Type: OBSERVATIONAL · Enrollment: 225

Last updated 2026-05-07

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

An appropriate hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis response is required to survive critical illness. Primary adrenal insufficiency, relative adrenal insufficiency, tissue resistance to glucocorticoids, ACTH deficiency and immune-mediated inhibition of the HPA axis may impair the secretion or action of glucocorticoids in critically ill patients. Adrenal insufficiency is estimated to occur in up to 77% of critically ill patients, but currently, there is no consensus on the diagnostic criteria for adrenal insufficiency in this setting, and standard testing does not discriminate among the aforementioned factors. We will study the incidence and natural history of adrenal insufficiency in critically ill patients to further define adrenal insufficiency and provide data to develop diagnostic tests. Clinical features and outcomes will be correlated with laboratory measurements of hormones, cytokines and glucocorticoid action. Healthy volunteers will undergo cortrosyn tests with measurement of free cortisol levels to develop a normative range for this endpoint.

\<TAB\>

Previous glucocorticoid use, if prolonged and supraphysiologic, also inhibits the HPA and can result in adrenal insufficiency. Patients with short intermittent courses of glucocorticoid administration have not been studied well, and may also be at risk. To gain further information about this group, patients receiving pulse glucocorticoid doses as part of bone marrow transplant regimens at the Clinical Center will also be studied.

Conditions

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

    lead NIH

Principal Investigators

  • Lynnette K Nieman, M.D. · National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Eligibility

Min Age
15 Years
Max Age
65 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2004-11-12

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

More Related Trials

Entities

Diseases

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT00156767 on ClinicalTrials.gov