Yeungnam Univ J Med.  2012 Jun;29(1):19-23. 10.12701/yujm.2012.29.1.19.

A Case of Rifampin-Induced Recurrent Adrenal Insufficiency During the Treatment of Pulmonary Tuberculosis in a Patient with Addison's Disease

• Kang JS
• Ko GB
• Lee JJ
• Kim M
• Jeon SJ
• Choi GH
• Kim SM
• Lee WJ

• KMID: 2138651
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12701/yujm.2012.29.1.19

Abstract

Adrenal insufficiency during the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis is a troublesome condition and can at times be lifethreatening if untreated. Rifampin is one of the most widely prescribed anti-tuberculosis agents. Furthermore, rifampin has been known to be capable of affecting the metabolism of various medications, including glucocorticoids. In this paper, a case of recurrent adrenal insufficiency induced by rifampin during the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis is reported. The patient was a 63-year-old man who was diagnosed with Addison's disease 17 years earlier and had been undergoing glucocorticoid replacement therapy. Five months before, the patient manifested pulmonary tuberculosis and was immediately given anti-tuberculosis medication that included rifampin. After one week of medication, general weakness and hyponatremia occurred. Despite the increased dose of the glucocorticoid medication, the adrenal insufficiency recurred many times. Since the substitution of levofloxacin for rifampin, the episodes of adrenal insufficiency have not recurred so far.

Keyword

Addison's disease; Adrenal insufficiency; Rifampin

MeSH Terms

Addison Disease
Adrenal Insufficiency
Glucocorticoids
Humans
Hyponatremia
Middle Aged
Ofloxacin
Rifampin
Tuberculosis, Pulmonary
Glucocorticoids
Ofloxacin
Rifampin