Os glicocorticoides exógenos são citados como a causa mais frequente da supressão adrenal, provavelmente porque as doenças para as quais são administrados (por exemplo, asma, doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica e artrite) são bastante comuns .[3]Broersen LH, Pereira AM, Jørgensen JO, et al. Adrenal insufficiency in corticosteroids use: systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2015 Jun;100(6):2171-80.
https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/100/6/2171/2829580
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25844620?tool=bestpractice.com
[8]Liu D, Ahmet A, Ward L, et al. A practical guide to the monitoring and management of the complications of systemic corticosteroid therapy. Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2013 Aug 15;9(1):30.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3765115
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23947590?tool=bestpractice.com
Os glicocorticoides administrados sistemicamente são causas bem conhecidas da supressão adrenal.[1]Prete A, Bancos I. Glucocorticoid induced adrenal insufficiency. BMJ. 2021 Jul 12;374:n1380.
https://www.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n1380
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34253540?tool=bestpractice.com
[3]Broersen LH, Pereira AM, Jørgensen JO, et al. Adrenal insufficiency in corticosteroids use: systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2015 Jun;100(6):2171-80.
https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/100/6/2171/2829580
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25844620?tool=bestpractice.com
[4]Rensen N, Gemke RJ, van Dalen EC, et al. Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis suppression after treatment with glucocorticoid therapy for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017 Nov 6;(11):CD008727.
https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD008727.pub4/full
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29106702?tool=bestpractice.com
[8]Liu D, Ahmet A, Ward L, et al. A practical guide to the monitoring and management of the complications of systemic corticosteroid therapy. Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2013 Aug 15;9(1):30.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3765115
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23947590?tool=bestpractice.com
[9]Bowden SA, Connolly AM, Kinnett K, et al. Management of adrenal insufficiency risk after long-term systemic glucocorticoid therapy in duchenne muscular dystrophy: clinical practice recommendations. J Neuromuscul Dis. 2019;6(1):31-41.
https://content.iospress.com/articles/journal-of-neuromuscular-diseases/jnd180346
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30614808?tool=bestpractice.com
A administração local de glicocorticoides (como as vias intra-articular, epidural, inalatória, intranasal ou tópica) também pode causar supressão adrenal, o que é pouco reconhecido.[10]Johnston PC, Lansang MC, Chatterjee S, et al. Intra-articular glucocorticoid injections and their effect on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis function. Endocrine. 2015 Mar;48(2):410-6.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25182149?tool=bestpractice.com
[11]Iranmanesh A, Gullapalli D, Singh R, et al. Hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis after a single epidural triamcinolone injection. Endocrine. 2017 Aug;57(2):308-13.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28674775?tool=bestpractice.com
[12]Ahmet A, Kim H, Spier S. Adrenal suppression: a practical guide to the screening and management of this under-recognized complication of inhaled corticosteroid therapy. Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2011 Aug 25;7(1):13.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3177893
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21867553?tool=bestpractice.com
[13]Wlodarczyk JH, Gibson PG, Caeser M. Impact of inhaled corticosteroids on cortisol suppression in adults with asthma: a quantitative review. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2008 Jan;100(1):23-30.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18254478?tool=bestpractice.com
[14]Scutelnicu A, Panaitescu AM, Ciobanu AM, et al. Iatrogenic Cushing's syndrome as a consequence of nasal use of betamethasone spray during pregnancy. Acta Endocrinol (Buchar). 2020 Oct-Dec;16(4):511-7.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34084246?tool=bestpractice.com
[15]Güven A. Different potent glucocorticoids, different routes of exposure but the same result: iatrogenic Cushing’s syndrome and adrenal insufficiency. J Clin Res Pediatr Endocrinol. 2020 Nov 25;12(4):383-92.
https://www.doi.org/10.4274/jcrpe.galenos.2020.2019.0220
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32431136?tool=bestpractice.com
[16]Nieman LK. Consequences of systemic absorption of topical glucocorticoids. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2011 Jul;65(1):250-2.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21679844?tool=bestpractice.com
Medicamentos que atuam no receptor de glicocorticoide, como megestrol e medroxiprogesterona, são causas relatadas de supressão adrenal.[1]Prete A, Bancos I. Glucocorticoid induced adrenal insufficiency. BMJ. 2021 Jul 12;374:n1380.
https://www.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n1380
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34253540?tool=bestpractice.com
[17]Delitala AP, Fanciulli G, Maioli M, et al. Primary symptomatic adrenal insufficiency induced by megestrol acetate. Neth J Med. 2013 Jan;71(1):17-21.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23412818?tool=bestpractice.com
[18]Malik KJ, Wakelin K, Dean S, et al. Cushing's syndrome and hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis suppression induced by medroxyprogesterone acetate. Ann Clin Biochem. 1996 May;33 (Pt 3):187-9.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8791979?tool=bestpractice.com
Além disso, como o CYP3A4 é a via primária para o metabolismo da maioria dos glicocorticoides prescritos, medicamentos concomitantes que são inibidores do CYP3A4 aumentarão a exposição aos glicocorticoides.[1]Prete A, Bancos I. Glucocorticoid induced adrenal insufficiency. BMJ. 2021 Jul 12;374:n1380.
https://www.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n1380
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34253540?tool=bestpractice.com
Por exemplo, o medicamento antirretroviral ritonavir (um inibidor do CYP3A4) aumenta as concentrações plasmáticas dos metabólitos da prednisona (prednisolona).[1]Prete A, Bancos I. Glucocorticoid induced adrenal insufficiency. BMJ. 2021 Jul 12;374:n1380.
https://www.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n1380
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34253540?tool=bestpractice.com
Outros inibidores fortes do CYP3A4 incluem antifúngicos, como itraconazol e cetoconazol, e tratamentos contra o câncer, como ceritinibe e idelalisibe.[1]Prete A, Bancos I. Glucocorticoid induced adrenal insufficiency. BMJ. 2021 Jul 12;374:n1380.
https://www.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n1380
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34253540?tool=bestpractice.com
O agente de indução anestésico etomidato pode interferir na síntese de esteroides adrenais e aumentar o risco de insuficiência adrenal e mortalidade em pacientes com sepse.[19]Chan CM, Mitchell AL, Shorr AF. Etomidate is associated with mortality and adrenal insufficiency in sepsis: a meta-analysis*. Crit Care Med. 2012 Nov;40(11):2945-53.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22971586?tool=bestpractice.com
O excesso de secreção de glicocorticoide oriundo de um adenoma ou carcinoma adrenal que provoca a síndrome de Cushing pode suprimir a glândula adrenal contralateral, resultando em insuficiência adrenal se o adenoma ou carcinoma autônomo for removido sem a suplementação de glicocorticoide.[20]Bertagna C, Orth DN. Clinical and laboratory findings and results of therapy in 58 patients with adrenocortical tumors admitted to a single medical center (1951 to 1978). Am J Med. 1981 Nov;71(5):855-75.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6272575?tool=bestpractice.com
[21]Luton JP, Cerdas S, Billaud L, et al. Clinical features of adrenocortical carcinoma, prognostic factors, and the effect of mitotane therapy. N Engl J Med. 1990 Apr 26;322(17):1195-201.
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199004263221705#t=articleTop
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2325710?tool=bestpractice.com
Além disso, após a remoção de um tumor hipofisário na doença de Cushing (síndrome de Cushing secundária a um tumor hipofisário secretor de hormônio adrenocorticotrófico [ACTH]), as células secretoras de ACTH restantes na hipófise podem ter uma recuperação lenta, resultando em um período de supressão adrenal que necessita de suplementação com glicocorticoide.
A suscetibilidade à supressão adrenal induzida por corticosteroides pode aumentar significativamente ao ter uma cópia (ou pior, duas cópias) da mutação rs591118 no locus do gene PDGFD (fator de crescimento derivado de plaquetas D).[22]Hawcutt DB, Francis B, Carr DF, et al. Susceptibility to corticosteroid-induced adrenal suppression: a genome-wide association study. Lancet Respir Med. 2018 Jun;6(6):442-50.
https://www.doi.org/10.1016/S2213-2600(18)30058-4
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29551627?tool=bestpractice.com
No entanto, testagem universal não é recomendada atualmente.