ADRENAL-RESPONSE TO SERIAL COSYNTROPIN STIMULATION AFTER REPEATED HIGH-DOSE PREDNISONE ADMINISTRATION IN PATIENTS WITH LYMPHOMA

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 65  (7-8) , 563-566
Abstract
To determine if repeated courses of high-dose prednisone given to patients with lymphoma as part of multiple-drug chemotherapy programs would lead to progressive adrenal suppression, serial cosyntropin stimulation tests were performed. Four patients with diffuse histiocytic lymphoma (group 1) received prednisone for 5 days every 3 wk for 5 courses; 5 patients with Hodgkin''s disease (group 2) received prednisone for 14 days every 4 wk for 6 courses. Testing was done on day 1 of each treatment course prior to the administration of therapy and after the final course of chemotherapy. In group 1 patients, there was no evidence of adrenal suppression after any of the courses of prednisone. In the group 2 patients, significant depression of basal plasma cortisol concentrations was observed after the 1st and 5th courses of prednisone, compared to the pretreatment values. The depression reflected the previous course of prednisone administration only and was not progressive with subsequent courses. The plasma cortisol increments after cosyntropin injection were normal despite depressed basal plasma cortisol levels.