Adrenal insufficiency is common amongst kidney transplant recipients receiving maintenance prednisolone and can be predicted using morning cortisol.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Long-term glucocorticoid therapy is a key component of immunosuppression for kidney transplant recipients (KTRs), leading to significant cumulative glucocorticoid exposure. The aims of this study are to investigate the prevalence of adrenal insufficiency (AI) in KTRs taking prednisolone and to develop a screening algorithm to identify patients at the highest risk of AI.

Methods

In this cross-sectional cohort study, 67 KTRs receiving prednisolone underwent a short synacthen test (SST) and measurement of cumulative glucocorticoid exposure.

Results

A total of 72% (n = 48) of participants failed the SST. Participants with AI had a higher daily prednisolone dose (4.9 versus 4.2 mg/day; P = .002) and greater cumulative glucocorticoid exposure (289 versus 111 mg/k

SUBMITTER: Tomkins M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9869856 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature