Does the modulation of corticosteroid metabolism by hydrocortisone therapy in patients with hypopituitarism increase tissue glucocorticoid exposure?
In ACTH-deficient patients daily HC doses of >20 mg/day have increased WHR, THF+5α-THF/THE ratios and total cortisol metabolites. GC metabolism and induction of 11β-HSD1 may play a pivitol role in the development of the metabolically adverse hypopituitary phenotype.
Mild anaemia is a significant and independent predictor of poor outcome in unselected patients with CHF. Correction of low haemoglobin level may become an interesting therapeutic option for CHF patients.