Adrenal insufficiency in critically ill patients

Insuficiencia adrenal en el paciente crítico

Adrenal insufficiency (ISA) in the intensive care unit is a frequent clinical situation in the critically ill patient. It is a clinical spectrum that is of diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic relevance, due to the consequences and potential threat of life when patients are not recognized in time. In the present review physiopathological, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of this entity are presented. Abbreviations: ISA, adrenal insufficiency; GC, glucocorticoids; IAR, relative adrenal insufficiency; ACTH, adrenocorticotropic hormone; CRH, hypothalamic corticotropa hormone.

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