Abstract
Summary
1. The levels of circulating eosinophils as a measure of adrenal cortical response to the stress of surgery were followed in 25 diabetics and 13 non-diabetics. Ten of the 25 diabetics showed diminished adrenal cortical function as indicated by an eosinophil count on the second post-operative day which was depressed less than 50%percnt; of the preoperative level. Four-hour ACTH and Cor-tone tests were done on 5 of these 10 diabetics and confirmed the presence of reduced adrenal cortical reserve. The adrenal cortex was capable of responding normally to the initial stress of surgery, but its reserve capacity was insufficient to maintain the eosinopenia for 48 hours. There is a suggestion that the abnormal adrenal response can be correlated with the duration of the diabetes. 2. The possibility is discussed that this decrease in the duration of the activity of the adrenal may be a compensatory change which results from the relative insulin deficiency of diabetes mellitus.
We wish to thank Dr. Peter H. Forsham for his helpful suggestions and criticisms and Drs. Herbert D. Adams, Bentley P. Colcock, and Richard H. Overholt for permission to use their patients as controls.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.