Rapid adrenocortical recovery after short-term glucocorticoid therapy
E. S. Lightner, H. Johnson and J. J. Corrigan Jr
The recovery time of adrenocortical function was studied in 13 children
receiving intermittent high-dosage glucocorticoid therapy (prednisone, 2
mg/kg/day) for one month out of every four months as treatment for acute
leukemia. The data indicate that the adrenal gland's ability to respond to
stress recovers rapidly from such treatment. The results of our study
clearly show that routine supplementation with glucocorticoid therapy in
these patients during periods of clinical stress occurring later than nine
days after glucocorticoid therapy is not warranted.
