Active clinical trials for "Adrenal Insufficiency"

Role fo oxidative stress in adrenal insufficiency has not been studied. The degree of oxidative stress and it's role in pediatric critical illness is unknown. Potential for significant alterations to many of thew body's regulatory pathways may result from severe oxidative stress. Further is needed to delineate what if any role oxidative stress may play

Currently, it is unknown whether sedation itself induces a rise in serum cortisol levels or if cortisol levels rise under only the most invasive of procedures, regardless of the type of anesthetic agent used. Animal data shows significant alterations in steroid intermediates under anesthesia regardless of the procedure performed. Prior studies in children show general anesthesia and even epidural anesthesia can cause a rise in serum cortisol, but the effects of moderate and deep sedation on cortisol levels during different types of procedures are unknown. General medical practice varies considerably among providers; some provide stress dosing (extra and sometimes high doses of steroids) for sedation for both non-invasive and invasive procedures for patients with known adrenal insufficiency, but the doses given vary considerably. Others provide stress dosing only for the most invasive procedures in this population of patients. Currently there is no published normative data on changes in cortisol levels under moderate and deep sedation in adrenally sufficient children, so the normal response we are trying to mimic is unknown. We propose to measure salivary cortisol levels prospectively in adrenally sufficient children undergoing moderate and deep sedation to determine the normal cortisol response to the stress of sedation for both invasive and non-invasive procedures. Up to 300 adrenally sufficient children will be prospectively recruited to measure salivary cortisol levels during moderate and deep sedation for non-invasive procedures (e.g. MRI, echocardiogram, or other imaging studies), and invasive procedures (e.g. surgery, endoscopy) to determine what the normal cortisol response is to the stress of sedation during these procedures using various anesthetic agents. The primary outcome variable will be to determine peak salivary cortisol measurements during non-invasive and invasive procedures under different levels of sedation using various anesthetic agents, and correlate these with known norms in children to determine if the patient's hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is under stress.

The objective of this study is to estimate the prevalence of relative adrenal insufficiency in preterm very low birth weight infants with and without shock.

The use of intravitreal corticosteroids in the management ocular inflammatory diseases has recently gained widespread acceptance. The purpose of this study is to determine if the use of intravitreal triamcinolone is associated with suppression of endogenous cortisol production, as generally admitted for patients treated with oral or parenteral corticosteroid therapy.

The purpose of this pilot study is to (1) examine the changes in gene expression in patients who suffer from severe sepsis and whose shock (inadequate oxygen delivery to vital organs) state does not respond to fluid and vasopressor administration, (2) to show that our sampling method of isolating RNA provides reliable and consistent data, (3) provide a basis for future gene expression studies in critically ill patients

In the year of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic several studies have focused on the effect of the COVID-19 on the adrenal cortex, demonstrating conflicting results. Herein, researchers sought to investigate the adrenal response in patients with COVID-19by assessing the diurnal rhythm of salivary cortisol and the adrenal androgen dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), as well as the plasma levels of aldosterone and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in consecutive patients before the possible therapeutic administration of dexamethasone. To elucidate the potential association between the magnitude of individual immune response and the adrenal cortex response we included serum measurements of interleukin - 6 (IL-6).

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. ...

Corticotropin Releasing Hormone (CRH) is a hypothalamic hormone made up of 41 amino acids. Amino acids are proteins that when combined make up different substances, like hormones. The order of amino acids in CRH, has been determined, meaning that the hormone can now be synthetically reproduced in a laboratory setting. When CRH is released from the hypothalamus it stimulates the pituitary gland to secrete another hormone, ACTH. ACTH then causes the adrenal glands to make a third hormone, cortisol. This process is known as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Problems can occur in any of the steps of this process and result in a variety of diseases (Cushing's Syndrome and adrenal insufficiency). Researchers hope that CRH created in a laboratory setting, ovine CRH (oCRH) can be used to help diagnose and treat conditions of the HPA axis. This study will test the relationship for single doses of oCRH in normal volunteers and patients with disorders of the HPA axis. The oCRH will be injected into the patients vein as a single injection or slowly through an IV line over 24 hours. The participants will have blood tests taken to measure hormone levels before, during, and after receiving the oCRH.

Currently, the only way to analyse glucocorticoids for the screening or diagnosis of AI in young children is via plasma obtained by invasive capillary or venous blood sampling. Thus, there is an unmet need for a safe and simple salivary collection technique for use in children under the age of six years. The development of the SalivaBio offers potential for salivary collection, which is safe, easy and less-invasive than current practice. The SaliPac has been developed to offer a more tolerable and pleasant way of sampling saliva using a SalivaBio in very young children which the investigators envisage being used by parents/carers at home to sample and then post to the hospital for GC analysis.

This study will evaluate patients with a variety of endocrine disorders in order to 1) learn more about conditions that affect the endocrine glands (glands that secrete hormones) and 2) to train physicians in endocrinology. Patients of all ages with endocrine-related conditions may be eligible for evaluation under this protocol. Those enrolled may be required to provide blood, saliva, urine or stool samples, and to undergo ultrasound examination of the thyroid gland, ovaries or testes, adrenal glands or other parts of the body. Laboratory or X-ray studies may be done for diagnostic or treatment purposes. In some cases, patients will receive medical or surgical treatment for their disorder. Patients and family members of patients with a hereditary disorder may be asked to provide a blood sample for genetic analysis.