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Secondary adrenal insufficiency primary prevention

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief:

Overview

There are no established measures for the primary prevention of secondary adrenal insufficiency. However, the risk can be minimized by preventing hypopituitarism by good obstetric care and minimizing radiation exposure as hypopituitarism is the main cause of secondary adrenal insufficiency. The other effective measures are tapering of steroids and avoidance of the long-term use of opioids.

Primary Prevention

There are no established measures for the primary prevention of secondary adrenal insufficiency. However, following measures can be effective:

References

  1. Abs R, Verhelst J, Maeyaert J, Van Buyten JP, Opsomer F, Adriaensen H, Verlooy J, Van Havenbergh T, Smet M, Van Acker K (2000). “Endocrine consequences of long-term intrathecal administration of opioids”. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 85 (6): 2215–22. doi:10.1210/jcem.85.6.6615. PMID 10852454.
  2. Joseph RM, Hunter AL, Ray DW, Dixon WG (2016). “Systemic glucocorticoid therapy and adrenal insufficiency in adults: A systematic review”. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 46 (1): 133–41. doi:10.1016/j.semarthrit.2016.03.001. PMC 4987145. PMID 27105755.


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