Adrenal Functions in Abdominal Tuberculosis

抄録

Twenty-one laparotomy and histologically proved and 11 clinically diagnosed but identical patients of abdominal tuberculosis were studied for various clinical and biochemical evidences of adrenal involvement. In both the groups, direct as well as indirect tests of adrenal cortical functions were found to be deranged. Both basal and post ACTH infusion plasma cortisol and urinary 17-ketosteroids were found to be significantly lower in patients as compared to controls. It is concluded that most of the patients with manifest abdominal tuberculosis suffer from latent clinica land/or biochemical adrenal cortical insufficiency and have a gross inability to respond to stress situations. Awareness of this condition and prompt therapy by corticosteroids at times of stress in these patients may be well justified and needs further evaluation by controlled trials.