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Case report
Iatrogenic Cushing syndrome and multifocal osteonecrosis caused by the interaction between inhaled fluticasone and ritonavir
  1. Joana Figueiredo1,
  2. Margarida Serrado2,
  3. Nikita Khmelinskii3,4 and
  4. Sónia do Vale1,5
  1. 1Serviço de Endocrinologia, Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Medicina, Lisboa, Portugal
  2. 2Hospital de Santa Maria, Serviço de Doenças Infecciosas, Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte EPE, Lisboa, Portugal
  3. 3Hospital de Santa Maria, Serviço de Reumatologia e Doenças Ósseas Metabólicas, Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte EPE, Lisboa, Portugal
  4. 4Unidade de Investigação em Reumatologia, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Lisboa, Portugal
  5. 5Hospital de Santa Maria, Serviço de Endocrinologia, Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte EPE, Lisboa, Portugal
  1. Correspondence to Professor Sónia do Vale; sonia.vale{at}chln.min-saude.pt

Abstract

Inhaled corticosteroids are generally considered safe and do not usually lead to systemic adverse events since their plasma concentrations are low due to hepatic metabolism by the cytochrome P450 3A4. However, when associated with inhibitors of this cytochrome, such as ritonavir, they may lead to iatrogenic Cushing syndrome by the systemic accumulation of corticosteroids and consequent suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. We present a case of iatrogenic Cushing syndrome complicated by multifocal osteonecrosis in a patient with HIV infection on antiretroviral therapy with protease inhibitors boosted with ritonavir, after the association of inhaled fluticasone. This clinical case highlights a relevant interaction between corticosteroids and inhibitors of the cytochrome P450 and the severe consequences that may occur.

  • drug interactions
  • adrenal disorders
  • HIV / AIDS
  • unwanted effects / adverse reactions
  • drugs: musculoskeletal and joint diseases
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Footnotes

  • Contributors MS, NK and SdV were involved in the treament of the presented patient. JF wrote the manuscript with the help from SdV, NK and MS. All authors contributed to the final version of the manuscript.

  • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

  • Competing interests None declared.

  • Patient consent for publication Obtained.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.