Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Understanding corticosteroid issues in critically ill pets
By Creedon, Jamie M Burkitt·Published in Journal of veterinary emergency and critical care (San Antonio, Tex. : 2001)·2015·Critical Consultations, United States·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Controversies surrounding critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency in animals.
Plain-English summary
This study discusses a condition called critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency (CIRCI), which can happen in pets when their bodies don't produce enough of a hormone called cortisol during severe illness. The exact reasons for this condition can vary and may involve problems with hormone regulation in the body. Diagnosing CIRCI in pets is tricky because there isn't a clear test to confirm it, and veterinarians often rely on how well pets respond to treatment with a medication called hydrocortisone. The good news is that if a pet recovers from their critical illness, they usually do well and can stop needing hydrocortisone.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To describe the controversies surrounding critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency (CIRCI) and the use of hydrocortisone in critically ill patients, and to present published diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in companion veterinary species. ETIOLOGY: Critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency may be due to hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction, alterations in cortisol-plasma protein binding, target cell enzymatic changes, changes in glucocorticoid receptor (GR) function, or a combination of these or other factors present during critical illness. DIAGNOSIS: Appropriate tests to diagnose CIRCI are unknown. The diagnosis in people is currently based on response to treatment with hydrocortisone. There is currently no consensus on appropriate diagnostic feature(s) in veterinary species. THERAPY: Low-dose hydrocortisone is the treatment of choice for patients with CIRCI. PROGNOSIS: If the patient survives the critical illness, prognosis for resolution of CIRCI and hydrocortisone dependence is very good.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25516097/