Citation

Northam WT, Alexander A, Carneiro K. Curr. Sports Med. Rep. 2020; 19(1): 8-10.

Affiliation

Department of Neurosurgery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1249/JSR.0000000000000672

PMID

31913917

Abstract

A 49-year-old female with history of daily inhaled corticosteroid use for asthma presented to a concussion clinic 7 wk after sport-related head injury with headache, visual blurring, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, polydipsia, and polyuria. Examination revealed difficulty with vestibuloocculomotor testing due to nausea and visual straining. Cranial computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging was unremarkable. Laboratory testing revealed critically low serum cortisol, hypernatremia, and urine studies suggesting diabetes insipidus. The patient was referred to the emergency department. Intravenous fluid resuscitation, corticosteroids, and desmopressin led to significant symptomatic relief. She was maintained on oral hydrocortisone after cosyntropin test revealed adrenal insufficiency. Her clinical picture suggested chronic subclinical adrenal suppression from inhaled corticosteroids which was exacerbated by hypopituitarism from concussion combined with diabetes insipidus. Adrenal insufficiency should be considered in athletes with history of corticosteroid use and endocrine-related symptoms after concussion, because this can create significant morbidity and can mimic traditional symptoms of concussion.

Language: en