Secondary adrenal insufficiency induced by long-term use of opioid analgesics.

We report a 41-year-old woman on chronic opioid therapy hospitalized for cardiovascular collapse following a right stellate ganglion nerve block. She developed severe hypotension after the procedure. Morning cortisol was low. The results from the cosyntropin test were consistent with secondary adrenal insufficiency. Her secondary adrenal insufficiency was likely due to long-term use of opioid analgesics for pain in the absence of other etiologies. PMID: 31384206 [PubMed]
Source: Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings - Category: Universities & Medical Training Authors: Tags: Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent) Source Type: research