ECE2024 Poster Presentations Pituitary and Neuroendocrinology (120 abstracts)
1Odense University Hospital, Department of Endocrinology, Odense C, Denmark; 2University of Southern Denmark, Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, Odense C, Denmark; 3Copenhagen University Hospital, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; 4Copenhagen University, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Clinical Sciences, Copenhagen, Denmark; 5Aarhus University Hospital, Department of Endocrinology and Internal Medicine, Aarhus, Denmark; 6Aarhus University, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus, Denmark
Background: Glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency (GIA) may occur after termination of long-term glucocorticoid (GC) treatment. GIA is usually diagnosed by a short-synacthen-test (SST), but peak cortisol response to SST may not validly assess normalisation of the diurnal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis. In patients with polymyalgia rheumatic (PMR) and giant cell arteritis (GCA), we report at this meeting a surprisingly low prevalence of GIA of 1.6% after cessation of prednisolone treatment; whereas 33% of these patients reported symptoms of GIA (scores ≤85) according to the Addisons disease-specific quality-of-life questionnaire (AddiQoL-30) (ECE 2024 abstract ID: 5059). The primary study aim is to generate evidence-based guidance for management of GIA in patients using patient reported outcomes as a key tool for inclusion and outcome.
Methods: This is the first RCT to randomize patients with low AddiQoL-30 score after long-term GC use to hydrocortisone treatment or placebo. The REPLACE study is a multi-centre randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study. Eligible patients have PMR and/or GCA and are in GC free remission for 2-12 weeks after long-term prednisolone treatment (>12 weeks). Patients are assigned to one of the study groups according to results of AddiQoL-30 and SST: All groups will participate in a standardized baseline visit. The RCT-group is randomized to either hydrocortisone or placebo for 16 weeks with repetition of baseline investigations at end of study.
RCT-group | AddiQoL-score ≤85 or 30 min. cortisol level >100 nmol/l and <420 nmol/l n=100 |
Control-group 1 | AddiQoL-score >85 and 30 min. cortisol level ≥420 nmol/l n=150 |
Control-group 2 | 30 min. cortisol level ≤100 nmol/l regardless of AddiQoL-score n=20 |
Outcomes: Change in GIA symptom burden (AddiQoL-30) at 16-week follow-up is the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes are generic health-related QoL questionnaire scores (CushingQoL, SF-36v2, Single item Sleep Quality Scale, and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-S7S). Participants will daily report on intercurrent illness and stress, and symptoms attributable to GIA, using a study smartphone application (app). Baseline and follow-up investigations of cardiovascular health, body composition, muscle function, and glucose homeostasis will be completed.
Ethics and dissemination: The REPLACE study is in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki; registered at EudraCT (2020-006121-65) and publications will be according to the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors recommendations.
Funding: The REPLACE study is funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation as part of a collaborative grant entitled DOUBLE EDGE Characterization and mitigation of adverse effects of glucocorticoid treatment (NNF20OC0063280).
Status: Recruiting.