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Hormonal and immunological pattern in a patient with Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome related complex and Cushing’s syndrome

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Abstract

A case of Cushing’s syndrome in a 24-yr-old homosexual with an AIDS-related complex is reported. In this patient certain symptoms common to both diseases, i.e. weakness, myalgia and muscle atrophy were accentuated, whereas other symptoms pathognomic of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, i.e. lymphoadenopathies and weight loss, were less pronounced by the high levels of circulating adrenal steroids. Ketoconazole was administered po in order to block adrenal steroidogenesis, the drug caused a remarkable fall of cortisol serum concentrations, but was unable to modify significantly the immunological pattern of the patient. Our data suggest that changes of serum adrenal steroid levels have little effect on the immune network of patients with AIDS.

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Rossi, R., Tommaselli, A.P., Panza, N. et al. Hormonal and immunological pattern in a patient with Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome related complex and Cushing’s syndrome. J Endocrinol Invest 15, 849–852 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03348818

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