Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Cortisol is an essential stress hormone and deficient patients suffering a systemic inflammatory response (SIR) will rapidly die if not replaced. However, controversy remains on the definition for a normal adrenal response in critically ill patients. We investigated cortisol status in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG), surgery frequently associated with a SIR, varying in severity from sub-clinical, to life-threatening....