ODP047 Intramuscular ACTH stimulation test in a patient with liver disease

INTRODUCTION: High dose (250 mcg) ACTH stimulation test is the gold standard dynamic testing to diagnose primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI). While the current guidelines do not elaborate on the preferable route of administration of corticotropin (intravenous or intramuscular), most published studies have been conducted on healthy people using the intravenous route. We present a patient with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis cirrhosis and hypotension who was thought to have suboptimal response with intramuscular ACTH stimulation test. CASE: 62-year-old male with cirrhosis, presented with dizziness, and was found to be hypotensive. Lab tests showed normal cell counts, electrolytes, renal function and lactic acid. His albumin was 2.6 g/dL. His blood pressure did not improve with intravenous fluids. Workup initiated for adrenal insufficiency showed 8 am cortisol level of 7. 0 mcg/dL, and ACTH level of 26 pg/mL. He underwent ACTH stimulation test with 250 mcg intramuscular cosyntropin, after which the 30-minute cortisol level was 13.7 mcg/dL and the 60-minute level was 15.1 mcg/dL (level immediately before the test 7.2 mcg/dL). Due to the patient not having signs of adrenal insufficiency and low albumin level due to liver disease, the cortisol response was considered adequate. DISCUSSION: Per the current Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guidelines, the standard method of performing the ACTH stimulation test involves measuring baseline cortisol level, administration of 250 mcg of cosyntropin, and then measuring cortisol level 30 and 60 minutes post administration. Traditionally, an appropriate response is characterized by peak cortisol level above 18 mcg/dL, with lower values indicative of AI. While the responses can vary due to multitude of factors including time of testing etc., the individual response to the intravenous versus intramuscular injections is similar. However, the cut-off points between the two administration methods may differ. In a study on 64 healthy adult men who were administered 250 mcg cosyntropin intramuscularly, Longui et al. demonstrated lower cut-off values of 12.6 mcg/dL and 16.3 mcg/dL at 30 and 60 minutes respectively. In addition, with the introduction of newer monoclonal antibody and LC-MS/MS assays having greater specificity for cortisol, a study by Jarvosky et. al. recommends a new lower cut-off of 14-15 mcg/dL. Furthermore, several studies have shown higher prevalence of low total cortisol levels in cirrhosis and other liver disease leading to overdiagnosis of PAI, due to deficiency of cortisol binding globulin and albumin. In our patient, we hypothesize that the combination of all these factors could have caused a falsely low cortisol peak level without any underlying PAI. Our case highlights the need for additional studies on patients with underlying liver disease and hypoalbuminemia who undergo testing with intramuscular cosyntropin administration, and analysis with the new assays available. Presentation: No date and time listed