A Rare Cause of Hypotension in Routine Hemodialysis: Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency

Abstract

Hypotension is a common complication during hemodialysis that develops due to high ultrafiltration rate and sometimes requires intravenous fluid replacement. Intradialytic hypotension may reduce the effectiveness of dialysis and contributes to hemodialysis‐related morbidity and mortality. Adrenal insufficiency is one of the causes of hypotension in the community. Our case was diagnosed with end‐stage renal failure and was undergoing routine hemodialysis with a central venous catheter 3 days a week. Upon the patient's hypotension attacks during the dialysis sessions and hypoglycemia attacks in the follow‐ups, the morning cortisol was 6.2 μg/dL. Adrenocorticotropic hormone was 39 pg/mL, and testosterone was 0.0442 ng/mL. Adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation test was performed on the patient with 250 mcg tetracosactide. The patient did not show adequate cortisol response, was detected to have partial empty sella on pituitary magnetic resonance imaging, and was diagnosed with secondary adrenal insufficiency, and then the hemodialysis hypotension improved with prednisolone treatment. We present a case of adrenal insufficiency, which is a rare cause of hypotension in patients on routine hemodialysis.