Low-Dose Hydrocortisone for Treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial

• Published in: JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association Vol. 280; no. 12; pp. 1061 - 1066
• Main Authors: McKenzie, Robin, O'Fallon, Ann, Dale, Janet, Demitrack, Mark, Sharma, Geetika, Deloria, Maria, Garcia-Borreguero, Diego, Blackwelder, William, Straus, Stephen E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL American Medical Association 23.09.1998
• Subjects: Adult; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - administration & dosage; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Chronic illnesses; Clinical trials; Double-Blind Method; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug therapy; Fatigue; Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic - blood; Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic - drug therapy; Female; Hormones. Endocrine system; Humans; Hydrocortisone - administration & dosage; Hydrocortisone - blood; Hydrocortisone - therapeutic use; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Severity of Illness Index; Sickness Impact Profile; Statistics, Nonparametric; Endocrinopathy; Human; Corticosteroid; Evaluation; Steroid hormone; Low dose; Treatment efficiency; Controlled therapeutic trial; Hydrocortisone; Chronic fatigue syndrome; Non steroidal antiinflammatory agent; Chemotherapy; Safety factor; Randomization; Adrenal hormone; Pituitary diseases; Adrenal gland diseases; Double blind study

CONTEXT.— Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is associated with a dysregulated hypothalamic–pituitary adrenal axis and hypocortisolemia. OBJECTIVE.— To evaluate the efficacy and safety of low-dose oral hydrocortisone as a treatment for CFS. DESIGN.— A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind therape...