hydrocortisone
Regulatory sources consulted
Approved indications
- Emergencies requiring systemic hydrocortisone, including asthma exacerbation, life-threatening anaphylaxis or angioedema, acute adrenal insufficiency, acute transplant rejection, and other listed severe conditions.
Contraindications
Absolute
- Outside emergencies: gastroduodenal ulcer, severe psychiatric disorders, glaucoma, herpetic keratitis, and uncontrolled systemic infections, as specified in the label.
- Hypersensitivity to hydrocortisone, other steroids, or excipients.
Clinical warnings
- Major warning · Use the lowest effective dose and taper gradually after prolonged treatment; abrupt withdrawal can precipitate adrenal insufficiency. — CIMA/AEMPS, ficha técnica 52105
- Major warning · It may increase susceptibility to infection, reactivate latent infections, and mask their signs. Avoid live vaccines at immunosuppressive doses. — CIMA/AEMPS, ficha técnica 52105
- Major warning · Monitor glucose, blood pressure, electrolytes, bone health, psychiatric symptoms, and ocular and gastrointestinal complications during systemic treatment. — CIMA/AEMPS, ficha técnica 52105
Drug interactions
- ModerateCYP3A4 inhibitors or inducers
Mechanism: They may increase or decrease systemic glucocorticoid exposure.
Recommendation: Monitor efficacy and toxicity and adjust only under clinical supervision.
CIMA/AEMPS, ficha técnica 52105
- HighLive vaccines
Mechanism: Immunosuppression may promote disseminated infection and reduce vaccine response.
Recommendation: Avoid live vaccines during immunosuppressive treatment; plan vaccination with the treating team.
CIMA/AEMPS, ficha técnica 52105
- ModerateAntidiabetic drugs, diuretics, and NSAIDs
Mechanism: Glucocorticoids may oppose glycemic control, worsen potassium loss, and increase gastrointestinal risk.
Recommendation: Monitor glucose and electrolytes and consider gastroprotection or alternatives according to risk.
CIMA/AEMPS, ficha técnica 52105
Adverse events
Rare but serious
Anaphylaxis, arrhythmia or collapse with rapid administration, severe infection, and adrenal suppression
Recent literature (PubMed)
Whether the antiinflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of glucocorticoids may decrease mortality among patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia is unclear. In this phase 3, multicenter, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial, we assigned adults who had been admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for severe community-acquired pneumonia to receive intravenous hydrocortisone (200 mg daily for either 4 or 7 days as determined by clinical improvement, followed by tapering for a total of 8 or 14 days) or to receive placebo. All the patients received standard therapy, including antibiotics and supportive care. The primary outcome was death at 28 days. A total of 800 patients had undergone randomization when the trial was stopped after the second planned interim analysis. Data from 795 patients were analyzed. By day 28, death had occurred in 25 of 400 patients (6.2%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.9 to 8.6) in the hydrocortisone group and in 47 of 395 patients (11.9%; 95% CI, 8.7 to 15.1) in the placebo group (absolute difference, -5.6 percentage points; 95% CI, -9.6 to -1.7; P = 0.006). Among the patients who were not undergoing mechanical ventilation at baseline, endotracheal intubation was performed in 40 of 222 (18.0%) in the hydrocortisone group and in 65 of 220 (29.5%) in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.40 to 0.86). Among the patients who were not receiving vasopressors at baseline, such therapy was initiated by day 28 in 55 of 359 (15.3%) of the hydrocortisone group and in 86 of 344 (25.0%) in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.43 to 0.82). The frequencies of hospital-acquired infections and gastrointestinal bleeding were similar in the two groups; patients in the hydrocortisone group received higher daily doses of insulin during the first week of treatment. Among patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia being treated in the ICU, those who received hydrocortisone had a lower risk of death by day 28 than thos
To determine whether hydrocortisone improves mortality in severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). In an international adaptive randomized controlled platform trial testing multiple interventions, adults admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with severe CAP were randomized to a 7-day course of intravenous hydrocortisone (50 mg every 6 h) or control (no corticosteroid). The primary end point was 90-day all-cause mortality, analyzed iteratively by a Bayesian hierarchical model estimating distinct treatment effects for patients presenting with influenza (Y/N) and shock (Y/N). Fixed 7-day course hydrocortisone enrollment was stopped for futility (< 5% probability of > 20% relative improvement). Of 658 patients enrolled, 536 were randomized to hydrocortisone and 122 to control. Vital status at day 90 was missing for 15 patients. Day 90 mortality was 15% (78/521) and 9.8% (12/122) for the hydrocortisone and control groups. The adjusted odds ratio ranged from 1.52 to 1.63 (with all 95% CrI crossing 1), while the probability of > 20% relative reduction of day 90 mortality ranged from 7.1 to 3.3% across influenza and shock strata. Results were consistent in sensitivity and pre-specified secondary outcomes. In exploratory analyses, the duration of shock appeared lower in the hydrocortisone group compared with control (median (IQR) of 2 (2-5) days compared to control 3 (2-6.75) days, p value = 0.05). Among patients with severe CAP, treatment with a 7-day course of hydrocortisone, compared with no hydrocortisone, appears unlikely to yield a large reduction in mortality. Smaller benefits and possible harm are not excluded. Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT02735707 (registration date: November 4th, 2016).
Adrenal insufficiency is a syndrome of cortisol deficiency and is categorized as primary, secondary, or glucocorticoid induced. Although primary and secondary adrenal insufficiency are rare, affecting less than 279 per 1 million individuals, glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency is common. Primary adrenal insufficiency, which involves deficiency of all adrenocortical hormones, is caused by autoimmune destruction, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, pharmacological inhibition (eg, high doses of azole antifungal therapy), infection (eg, tuberculosis, fungal infections), or surgical removal of adrenal cortical tissue. Secondary adrenal insufficiency is caused by disorders affecting the pituitary gland, such as tumors, hemorrhage, inflammatory or infiltrative conditions (eg, hypophysitis, sarcoidosis, hemochromatosis), surgery, radiation therapy, or medications that suppress corticotropin production, such as opioids. Glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency is caused by administration of supraphysiological doses of glucocorticoids. Patients with adrenal insufficiency typically present with nonspecific symptoms, including fatigue (50%-95%), nausea and vomiting (20%-62%), and anorexia and weight loss (43%-73%). Glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency should be suspected in patients who have recently tapered or discontinued a supraphysiological dose of glucocorticoids. Early-morning (approximately 8 am) measurements of serum cortisol, corticotropin, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) are used to diagnose adrenal insufficiency. Primary adrenal insufficiency is typically characterized by low morning cortisol levels (<5 µg/dL), high corticotropin levels, and low DHEAS levels. Patients with secondary and glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency typically have low or intermediate morning cortisol levels (5-10 µg/dL) and low or low-normal corticotropin and DHEAS levels. Patients with intermediate early-morning cortisol levels should undergo repeat early-m
Chronic pruritus, defined as itch experienced for 6 weeks or longer, affects approximately 22% of people in their lifetime. Approximately 1% of physician visits are for the chief concern of chronic pruritus. Chronic pruritus is associated with adverse outcomes, including impaired sleep and reduced quality of life. Chronic pruritus can be categorized by etiology into inflammatory, neuropathic, or a combination of inflammatory and neuropathic pruritus. Chronic pruritus is due to inflammation in approximately 60% of patients and may be caused by eczema, psoriasis, or seborrheic dermatitis. Chronic pruritus is due to a neuropathic or mixed etiology in approximately 25% of patients. Neuropathic causes of chronic pruritus include postherpetic neuralgia and notalgia paresthetica and are typically due to localized or generalized nerve dysregulation. Approximately 15% of people with chronic pruritus have other causes including systemic diseases with secondary itch, such as uremic pruritus and cholestatic pruritus, medication-induced pruritus such as pruritus due to immunotherapy, and infectious etiologies such as tinea corporis and scabies. When few primary changes are present, a thorough history, review of symptoms, and laboratory evaluation should be performed, particularly for people with chronic pruritus lasting less than 1 year. Clinicians should consider the following tests: complete blood cell count, complete metabolic panel, and thyroid function testing to evaluate for hematologic malignancy, liver disease, kidney disease, or thyroid disease. First-line treatment for inflammatory chronic pruritus includes topical anti-inflammatory therapies such as hydrocortisone (2.5%), triamcinolone (0.1%), or tacrolimus ointment. Approximately 10% of patients do not respond to topical therapies. In these patients, referral to dermatology and systemic oral or injectable treatments such as dupilumab or methotrexate may be considered. When no underlying systemic disease associated wi
Sepsis is a common condition associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Emergency physicians play a key role in the diagnosis and management of this condition. This paper evaluates key evidence-based updates concerning the management of sepsis and septic shock for the emergency clinician. Sepsis is a life-threatening syndrome, and rapid diagnosis and management are essential. Antimicrobials should be administered as soon as possible, as delays are associated with increased mortality. Resuscitation targets include mean arterial pressure ≥ 65 mmHg, mental status, capillary refill time, lactate, and urine output. Intravenous fluid resuscitation plays an integral role in those who are fluid responsive. Balanced crystalloids and normal saline are both reasonable options for resuscitation. Early vasopressors should be initiated in those who are not fluid-responsive. Norepinephrine is the recommended first-line vasopressor, and if hypotension persists, vasopressin should be considered, followed by epinephrine. Administration of vasopressors through a peripheral 20-gauge or larger intravenous line is safe and effective. Steroids such as hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone should be considered in those with refractory septic shock. An understanding of the recent updates in the literature concerning sepsis and septic shock can assist emergency clinicians and improve the care of these patients.