Critical Illness – Related Corticosteroid Insufficiency

In some acute critical illnesses, the function of Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal axis can be impaired. This event is called "Critical Illness-Related Corticosteroid Insufficiency" (CIRCI). We conducted a study to determine which of the CIRCI patients need steroid therapy. This study was performed on patients who were admitted in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) in Nemazee Hospital, affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran. In first 24 hour of PICU admission, Serum cortisol levels were measured immediately before, 30 and 60 minutes after IV administration of 250 μg of synthetic adrenocorticotropic hormone (Synacthen®).Their clinical conditions and paraclinical data were followed and recorded. Twenty four patients were enrolled in the study. Twelve patients (50%) had CIRCI. CIRCI was defined as Random Serum Cortisol (RSC)