[Acute adrenal gland decompensation in the immediate postpartum]

J Gynecol Obstet Biol Reprod (Paris). 1993;22(8):879-80.
[Article in French]

Abstract

We report the case of acute adrenal gland failure which occurred one hour after cesarian section for the delivery of a child after 31 weeks of amenorrhoea. The clinical picture of the mother was immediately severe and was dominated by neurological features: profound coma with a bilateral Babinski's sign. The laboratory tests however only revealed severe hypoglycaemia among the classical signs of adrenal gland failure. It was extremely difficult to correct the blood glucose level without concomitant administration of corticosteroids.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adrenal Insufficiency / complications
  • Adrenal Insufficiency / diagnosis*
  • Adrenal Insufficiency / drug therapy*
  • Adrenal Insufficiency / metabolism
  • Adult
  • Aldosterone / blood
  • Blood Glucose
  • Cesarean Section
  • Coma / diagnosis
  • Coma / etiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hydrocortisone / analogs & derivatives
  • Hydrocortisone / metabolism
  • Hydrocortisone / therapeutic use
  • Hypoglycemia / blood
  • Hypoglycemia / etiology*
  • Pregnancy
  • Puerperal Disorders / complications
  • Puerperal Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Puerperal Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Puerperal Disorders / metabolism
  • Reflex, Babinski

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Aldosterone
  • hydrocortisone hemisuccinate
  • Hydrocortisone