Predicting iatrogenic adrenal insufficiency in neonates exposed to prolonged steroid courses: do cortisol levels help?

To determine whether random cortisol levels obtained in neonates to assess for secondary adrenal insufficiency (AI) after prolonged steroid exposure are predictive of central AI.

Data were collected on neonates born 2017–2022 who received ≥10 consecutive days of systemic steroids and had cortisol measured thereafter. Data were then collected on whether those neonates developed signs of AI or had a failed adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test.

Of the 71 cortisol levels (in 67 neonates) that were analyzed, there was no difference in cortisol levels between neonates who developed AI (median cortisol level of 6.5 mcg/dl) and those who did not (median of 9.2 mcg/dl), or between those who failed their ACTH stimulation test or passed it, using Wilcoxon ranked sum tests.

These findings demonstrate that cortisol levels may not be helpful in identifying AI in neonates exposed to prolonged steroids.