Adrenal function in tuberculosis.

In a study of 41 African Zulus with acute pulmonary tuberculosis, 55% were found to have a suboptimal cortisol response to Synacthen and all had very low plasma dehydroepiandrosterone levels. Following a 2-week course of antituberculous chemotherapy there was an improvement in adrenal corticosteroid function with a reduction to 30% of those showing an impaired cortisol response to Synacthen, but adrenal androgen function did not improve in any. Patients who received rifampicin as part of their treatment appeared to show less improvement in adrenal corticosteroid function when compared to a group who received antituberculous treatment which did not include rifampicin.