Assessment of adrenocortical function in asthmatic patients on long-term triamcinolone acetonide treatment

The adrenocortical function of 48 adult asthmatic patients on long-term corticoid therapy was studied. All were treated with triamcinolone acetonide (TA) for from two to six (average 3.5 years). The adrenocortical function was assessed using a short Synacthen test as a screening procedure and a five-hour Synacthen test for TA exclusively treated patients with abnormal response in the short test. Among patients on long-term TA were nine with abnormally short Synacthen tests. The five-hour test revealed six abnormal responses (12% of the entire group of TA treated patients). Contrary to previously expressed opinions the authors feel that TA long-term treatment only occasionally causes steady adrenal suppression.