Glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency: physiological dose tapering promotes recovery

Glucocorticoid discontinuation is complicated by glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency. Guidelines discourage tapering below physiological doses (prednisolone 3-6 mg) when morning cortisol is ≤300 nmol/L, with values <150 nmol/L thought to indicate persistent adrenal insufficiency, although this may underestimate hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis suppression from such doses. We aim to evaluate how hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function evolves during physiological dose tapering and assess whether current cortisol thresholds restrict successful discontinuation.

This is a retrospective cohort study.

Adults (n = 65) with long-term glucocorticoid use for inflammatory disease undergoing prednisolone tapering between 2019 and 2024 were included. Serial short Synacthen tests (n = 52) on reducing prednisolone doses (≤5 mg) were analysed using linear mixed-effects modelling. Nadir morning cortisol values at doses ≤5 mg from successful weans were compared with guideline thresholds.

At referral, the mean age was 55.4 ± 16.4 years, with median prednisolone dose and duration of therapy being 5 (3.5-5) mg and 23 (6.5-66.5) months, respectively. For each 1 mg dose reduction, morning and post-Synacthen cortisol rose by 48.8 nmol/L and 57.5 nmol/L (both P < 0.001), respectively, with reductions >2 mg producing larger cortisol increases than 1 mg reductions (both P < 0.05). Among completed wean attempts (n = 47), 81% (n = 38) were successful. Of these, 42% (n = 16) had a nadir morning cortisol <150 nmol/L, including six with values <28 nmol/L. No adrenal crises occurred.

Physiological dose tapering in glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency enables, rather than follows, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis recovery, with structured, symptom-led tapering being safe and effective. Future guidelines should recognise that the HPA axis is suppressed by physiological doses.

In this retrospective cohort study evaluating 65 adults with long-term glucocorticoid use for inflammatory disease undergoing prednisolone tapering, each 1 mg dose reduction from a maximum starting dose of 5 mg increased morning and post-Synacthen cortisol by 48.8 nmol/L and 57.5 nmol/L (both P < 0.001), respectively, with reductions >2 mg producing larger cortisol increases than 1 mg reductions (both P < 0.05). Furthermore, sixteen patients with a nadir morning cortisol <150 nmol/L, including six with values <28 nmol/L, were able to safely and successfully discontinue prednisolone. These findings have important implications for the management of glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency, with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis recovery driven by physiological dose reduction itself, and successful tapering enabling rather than following axis recovery. The routine use of short Synacthen tests in glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency is not supported by this study.