Adrenal insufficiency in critical patients: New ethiopathogenic concepts and therapeutic implications

Abstract

Recently, there have been advances in understanding of the changes that occur in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis during the different stages of critical disease. Such advances have led to a paradigm change, so that the aforementioned adaptations are no longer considered the result of adrenal axis activation, but a consequence of decreased cortisol metabolism illness. Knowledge of this new pathophysiological bases should lead to reconsider the diagnosis and treatment of adrenal insufficiency in critically ill patients, a condition poorly understood to date.

Keywords: Adrenal insufficiency; Cortisol metabolism; Critical patient; Enfermo crítico; Insuficiencia suprarrenal; Metabolismo del cortisol.