Post-COVID-19 syndrome increased the requirement for corticosteroids in a dialysis patient with preexisting adrenal insufficiency.

A 77-year-old male patient on maintenance hemodialysis therapy who underwent unilateral adrenonephrectomy 9 years ago was transferred to our hospital after 4 months of acute treatment for skull base osteomyelitis. He presented with unexplained hypotension during dialysis sessions. Further evaluation led to a diagnosis of primary adrenal insufficiency, followed by the start of oral hydrocortisone. Six months after admission, the patient was found to have a positive COVID-19 result on a rapid antigen test and mild symptoms. The patient complained of fatigue after the disappearance of the symptoms. Subsequently, the systolic blood pressure gradually declined despite the additional administration of fludrocortisone and caused difficulties in undergoing hemodialysis. The patient's lasting fatigue raised a suspicion of post-COVID-19 syndrome, requiring larger dosages of corticosteroids by stress dosing. Hypotension was interpreted as a symptom associated with adrenal insufficiency. The dosages of corticosteroids were increased beyond the upper recommended limits. The effect eventually stabilized the patient's hemodynamics. Hydrocortisone was increased as follows: 35 mg/day for nondialysis days and 55 mg/day for dialysis days, divided into three or four doses per day (20 mg in the morning, 20 mg before dialysis, 10 mg in the afternoon, and 5 mg in the evening). The dosage of fludrocortisone was increased up to 0.5 mg/day. In conclusion, the requirement for corticosteroids significantly increased in association with post-COVID-19 syndrome. The management of patients with adrenal insufficiency in the context of concomitant post-COVID-19 syndrome needs further investigation.
(© 2023. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to The Japan Society of Nephrology.)