[Adrenocortical function in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis].

STUDY

OBJECTIVE

To assess adrenal function in patients with acute pleuropulmonary tuberculosis (APT) and compare it with that function in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).

PATIENTS: Over a period of 6 months all consecutive patients 18 years of age or older with newly diagnosed APT and CAP were entered into the study.

MEASUREMENTS: The whole patients had the following investigations: 1) Serum Na+, K+ and glucose concentrations 2) Systolic and diastolic blood pressures. 3) An ultrasonographic study of the adrenal glands. 4) A standard ACTH stimulation test.

RESULTS

There was no significative difference in the serum cortisol level between the two groups at any time of the ACTH stimulation test (basal, 30 and 60 minutes), neither when taking into account the increments between basal and 60 minutes after stimulation serum cortisol levels. All patients in both groups had normal ACTH stimulation test with a peak stimulated cortisol level at 60 minutes > 504 nmol/L.

CONCLUSIONS

We did not find evidence of adrenal cortical dysfunction in patients with acute pleuropulmonary tuberculosis or with community-acquired pneumonia in our hospital.