Adrenal recovery following short and long-term glucocorticoid therapy

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Comparison of adrenal recovery following short and long-term glucocorticoid therapy.

• IRAS ID

  93110

• Contact name

  Hogler Wolfgang

• Sponsor organisation

  Birmingham Children's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

• Eudract number

  2011-005790-23

• ISRCTN Number

  N/A

• Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

  N/A

• Research summary

  Adrenal glands are small glands that rest on top of each kidney. They produce numerous hormones one of them being cortisol which is a steroid hormone, nicknamed the ??stress hormone? as it helps the body cope with stress. The stress hormone production by these glands gets suppressed when treated with Glucocorticosteroids (GC). Lack of natural GC production in the body can lead to a condition called ??Steroid withdrawal syndrome? which includes weakness, tiredness, reduced appetite, weight loss and increased susceptibility to infections. There is inadequate evidence available regarding the duration until full adrenal recovery after short, and long-term GC treatment. Although some studies suggest that 30% of patients still have suppressed adrenal function 4 weeks after short-term GC use (<1 month), this period of adrenal suppression may last even longer after long-term GC use, and may be flunced by the type of GC used during withdrawal. How long it takes for the adrenal glands to fully recover is entirely unclear, and a multitude of ??home-made? withdrawal strategies are used around the globe without evidence for safety and efficiency. The purpose of this study is to determine how long the adrenal glands take to recover following both short and long term GC treatment. This is assessed by a short adrenal stimulation test (Synacthen test) at the end of 1,2,3 and 5 weeks of stopping GC treatment in children with either Acute Leukaemia or long term liver, lung or joint conditions, aged 1 to 17 years.

• REC name

  East Midlands - Nottingham 2 Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  12/EM/0039

• Date of REC Opinion

  30 Apr 2012

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion