• Georgina Russell, Konstantinos Kalafatakis, Claire Durant, Nicola Marchant, Jamini Thakrar, Russell Thirard, Jade King, Jane Bowles, Thomas Upton, Ngoc Jade Thai, BrooksJonathan C WJCWSchool of Psychology, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK., Aileen Wilson, Kirsty Phillips, Stuart Ferguson, Meryem Grabski, Chris A Rogers, Theodoros Lampros, Sue Wilson, Catherine Harmer, Marcus Munafo, and Stafford L Lightman.
• Laboratories of Integrative Neuroscience and Endocrinology, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
• J. Intern. Med. 2024 Jan 1; 295 (1): 516751-67.

BackgroundPrimary adrenal insufficiency (PAI) mortality and morbidity remain unacceptably high, possibly arising as glucocorticoid replacement does not replicate natural physiology. A pulsatile subcutaneous pump can closely replicate cortisol's circadian and ultradian rhythm.ObjectivesTo assess the effect of pump therapy on quality of life, mood, functional neuroimaging, behavioural/cognitive responses, sleep and metabolism.MethodsA 6-week randomised, crossover, double-blinded and placebo-controlled feasibility study of usual dose hydrocortisone in PAI administered as either pulsed subcutaneous or standard care in Bristol, United Kingdom (ISRCTN67193733). Participants were stratified by adrenal insufficiency type. All participants who received study drugs are included in the analysis. The primary outcome, the facial expression recognition task (FERT), occurred at week 6.ResultsBetween December 2014 and 2017, 22 participants were recruited - 20 completed both arms, and 21 were analysed. The pump was well-tolerated. No change was seen in the FERT primary outcome; however, there were subjective improvements in fatigue and mood. Additionally, functional magnetic resonance imaging revealed differential neural processing to emotional cues and visual stimulation. Region of interest analysis identified the left amygdala and insula, key glucocorticoid-sensitive regions involved in emotional ambiguity. FERT post hoc analysis confirmed this response. There were four serious adverse events (AE): three intercurrent illnesses requiring hospitalisation (1/3, 33.3% pump) and a planned procedure (1/1, 100% pump). There was a small number of expected AEs: infusion site bruising/itching (3/5, 60% pump), intercurrent illness requiring extra (3/7, 42% pump) and no extra (4/6, 66% pump) steroid.ConclusionsThese findings support the administration of hormone therapy that mimics physiology.© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Internal Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Association for Publication of The Journal of Internal Medicine.

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