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[Experience with selenium used to recover adrenocortical function in patients taking glucocorticosteroids long]
Aim:
To study the effect of selenium on adrenocortical function in patients taking glucocorticosteroids (GCS) long.
Subjects And Methods:
The study included 56 patients who had been long taking oral GCS for the underlying disease. Adrenocortical function was evaluated by a short synacthen test; adrenal insufficiency (mean cortisol level 8.2 microg/dl) was identified in 52 patients. A study group of patients (n = 35) was given selenium 200 microg/day. A control group (n = 17) with the detected adrenal insufficiency did not take it. All the patients (n = 52) continued to receive standard therapy for the underlying disease, including oral GCS.
Results:
Adrenal function was reexamined 6 months later; the two paired-samples t-test indicated a statistically significant increase in cortisol levels up to 23.20 +/- 4.2 microg/dl (p < or = 0.05) in the patient group receiving selenium in addition to the basic therapy. In the control group, the function did not recover (cortisol levels were 8.6 and 9.8 microg/dl at baseline and at 6 months, respectively; p < or = 0.05).
Conclusion:
The experience with selenium 200 microg/day given long to patients with adrenal insufficiency caused by the long-term use of GCS shows that the agent is effective in recovering adrenocortical function.
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