Health Alert:
Adrenal Crisis Causes Death in Some People Who Were Treated With hGH
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Treatment With hGH Does Not Cause Adrenal Crisis, but because a number of people lacking growth hormone also lack ACTH, adrenal crisis has occurred in some people who were treated with hGH. In earlier updates we have talked about how adrenal crisis can be prevented, but people continue to die from adrenal crisis, which is brought on by lack of cortisol. These deaths can be prevented. Please talk to your doctor about whether you are at risk for adrenal crisis.
Why Should People Treated With HGH Know About Adrenal Crisis?
Among the people who received hGH, those who had birth defects, tumors, and other diseases affecting the brain lacked hGH and often, other hormones made by the pituitary gland. A shortage of the hormones that regulate the adrenal glands can cause many health problems. It can also lead to death from adrenal crisis. This tragedy can be prevented.
What Are Adrenal Hormones?
The pituitary gland makes many hormones, including growth hormone and ACTH, a hormone which signals the adrenal glands to make cortisol, a hormone needed for life. If the adrenal gland doesn't make enough cortisol, replacement medications must be taken. The most common medicines used for cortisol replacement are:
- Hydrocortisone
- Prednisone
- Dexamethasone
What is Adrenal Crisis?
Adrenal hormones are needed for life. The system that pumps blood through the body cannot work during times of physical stress, such as illness or injury, if there is a severe lack of cortisol (or its replacement). People who lack cortisol must take their cortisol replacement medication on a regular basis, and when they are sick or injured, they must take extra cortisol replacement to prevent adrenal crisis. When there is not enough cortisol, adrenal crisis can occur and may rapidly lead to death.
Symptoms of the Lack of Adrenal Hormones
If you don't have enough cortisol or its replacement, you may have some of these problems:
- Feeling weak
- Feeling tired all the time
- Feeling sick to your stomach
- Vomiting
- No appetite
- Weight loss
When someone with adrenal gland problems has weakness, nausea, or vomiting, that person needs immediate emergency treatment to prevent adrenal crisis and possible death.
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References:
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
endocrine.niddk.nih.gov/pubs/creutz/alert.htm
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