Dexamethasone is a very potent corticosteroid drug, specific…
Dexamethasone is a very potent corticosteroid drug, specifically, it is a glucocorticoid analog, and you know now that this type of medication is of course classified as a steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (SAID). Among its many uses it has more recently been applied to treat inflammatory symptoms of severe COVID19. The goal here is to exogenously negative feedback inhibit the secretion of ACTH from the anterior pituitary gland. Two patients of yours, patient X and patient Z, with hypErsecretion of cortisol, are both administered IV dexamethasone. Patient X’s cortisol secretion level decreases to normal after the medication, but patient Z’s cortisol secretion remains increased. Which patient has primary hypErcortisolism (which is known as one of the subtypes of Cushing’s syndrome)?
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