TY - JOUR
T1 - Abnormal hypothalamic—pituitary—adrenal axis function in rheumatoid arthritis. Effects of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and water immersion
AU - Hall, Jane
AU - Morand, Eric F.
AU - Medbak, Sami
AU - Zaman, Molly
AU - Perry, Les
AU - Goulding, Nicolas J.
AU - Maddison, Peter J.
AU - O'Hare, J. Paul
PY - 1994/1/1
Y1 - 1994/1/1
N2 - Objective. To investigate the effects of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) therapy and water immersion on hypothalamic—pituitary—adrenal (HPA) axis function in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods. Plasma levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and serum and urine levels of cortisol were compared in untreated RA patients, NSAID‐treated RA patients, and healthy control subjects. Results. ACTH levels were significantly higher in untreated RA patients (mean ± SEM integrated area 11,377 ± 5,246 hours ng/liter) than in NSAID‐treated RA patients (2,285 ± 388 hours ng/liter) or healthy controls (1,845 ± 35.5 hours ng/liter) (P < 0.001). Serum and urine cortisol levels were not significantly different between groups. Two‐hour head‐out water immersion had no effect. Conclusion. Elevated ACTH levels without hypercortisolemia occur in untreated RA. NSAID therapy alters HPA axis response, but immersion has no effect.
AB - Objective. To investigate the effects of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) therapy and water immersion on hypothalamic—pituitary—adrenal (HPA) axis function in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods. Plasma levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and serum and urine levels of cortisol were compared in untreated RA patients, NSAID‐treated RA patients, and healthy control subjects. Results. ACTH levels were significantly higher in untreated RA patients (mean ± SEM integrated area 11,377 ± 5,246 hours ng/liter) than in NSAID‐treated RA patients (2,285 ± 388 hours ng/liter) or healthy controls (1,845 ± 35.5 hours ng/liter) (P < 0.001). Serum and urine cortisol levels were not significantly different between groups. Two‐hour head‐out water immersion had no effect. Conclusion. Elevated ACTH levels without hypercortisolemia occur in untreated RA. NSAID therapy alters HPA axis response, but immersion has no effect.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0028019364&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/art.1780370804
DO - 10.1002/art.1780370804
M3 - Article
C2 - 8053951
AN - SCOPUS:0028019364
SN - 0004-3591
VL - 37
SP - 1132
EP - 1137
JO - Arthritis and Rheumatism
JF - Arthritis and Rheumatism
IS - 8
ER -