DrVirgo
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20. A 35-year old woman with SLE abruptly stops taking her glucocorticoids because "she is well now and does not want to get fat." Several days later, the woman goes to the ED because she "Feels terible." If serum studies are performed on this patient, which of the following findings would be expected?
A. Elevated ACTH
B. Elevated cortisol
C. Hypernatremia
D. Hypoglycemia
E. Hypokalemia
Please EXPLAIN your answer... Thanks. 
Edited by DrVirgo on 06/21/06 - 02:56 PM
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| nadiabarati
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D?
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| DrVirgo
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Yes, WHY?
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| robin082006
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Sudden stop of glucocorticoid therapy results in acute hypocortisolism--> D is the best choice
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| drpkaur
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YEAH I agree with robin that sudden stop of GC'S would lead to decrease in cortisol levels to extremely low levels ...D is the appropriate choice..
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| mjl1717
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sudden withdrawl of glucocorticoid blunted her ACTH response {should be done gradually}.. of course she feels terrible !! - no ACTH , no cortisol and as robins saying no gluconeogenesis therefore hypoglycemia.
All other choices would lead towards Cushing syndrome
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| DrVirgo
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D is right! 
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