Does recovery of adrenal function occur in patients with autoimmune Addison's disease?

P>Objective We earlier discovered partial recovery in a patient with autoimmune Addison's disease. The aim of this study was to assess the occurrence of adrenocortical recovery in patients with autoimmune adrenalitis. Design Cross-sectional study. Patients Twenty-seven adult patients with autoimmune Addison's disease on stable glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid replacement therapy (RT) attending the Department of Endocrinology of a university teaching hospital were included in this study. Methods Adrenocortical function was assessed by performing an adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) (250 mu g Synacthen) stimulation test (SST) after interruption of current glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid RT. A normal adrenal response was defined as a serum cortisol concentration >= 500 nm 30 or 60 min after stimulation. Partial recovery was defined as a cortisol concentration >= 100 and < 500 nm after stimulation. Results In 17 patients (63%), serum cortisol concentrations remained undetectable 30 and 60 min after the administration of ACTH. None of the remaining 10 participants had a normal response. Only one patient reached a cortisol concentration of 100 nm after 60 min, but this could not be confirmed during a second SST. Conclusions In this cross-sectional study among 27 patients with autoimmune adrenalitis, no new cases of adrenocortical recovery were found.