Prospective evaluation of a week one overnight metyrapone test with subsequent dynamic assessments of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function after pituitary surgery.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether an overnight metyrapone test (OMT) within the first week postpituitary surgery can definitively assess the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, compared with subsequent dynamic tests and glucocorticoid requirement at 6 months.

DESIGN

Prospective study measuring morning cortisol levels on days 3 and 4 post-operatively, OMT day 5-7 and week 6, week 6 250 μg short Synacthen test (SST) and week 7 insulin tolerance test (ITT).

PATIENTS AND MEASUREMENTS: Forty participants who underwent pituitary surgery at a single centre (Cushing's disease excluded) were followed for at least 6 months. 46% had pre-operative adrenal insufficiency.

PRIMARY OUTCOME: week 1 OMT compared to glucocorticoid requirement at 6 months.

SECONDARY OUTCOMES: the performance of ITT as a "definitive" test and all tests compared to glucocorticoid requirement at 6 months.

RESULTS

Week 1 OMT showed concordance with ITT at week 7 of 78% and glucocorticoid requirement at 6 months of 81% respectively which was not significantly different from post-operative morning cortisol levels; 37% of participants with an abnormal OMT on day 6 had a normal OMT at week 6. All HPA axis tests showed similar concordance with glucocorticoid requirement at 6 months of 80%-85%.

CONCLUSIONS

Overnight metyrapone test within the first week after pituitary surgery was no better than an early morning cortisol level at predicting glucocorticoid requirement at 6 months. OMT at week 6 demonstrated recovery of HPA axis in a substantial proportion of participants who failed earlier assessments; thus, definitive testing should be delayed until 6 weeks post-operatively.