Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care

Korean Society for Hospice and Palliative Care (한국호스피스완화의료학회)
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Opioids Use and Adrenal Insufficiency

마약성 진통제 사용과 부신기능부전

  • Jung, Ji Hoon (Department of Family Medicine, Korea University Guro Hospital) ;
  • Choi, Youn Seon (Department of Family Medicine, Korea University Guro Hospital) ;
  • Kim, Jung Eun (Department of Family Medicine, Korea University Guro Hospital) ;
  • Kim, E Yeon (Department of Family Medicine, Korea University Guro Hospital)
  • 정지훈 (고려대학교 구로병원 가정의학과) ;
  • 최윤선 (고려대학교 구로병원 가정의학과) ;
  • 김정은 (고려대학교 구로병원 가정의학과) ;
  • 김이연 (고려대학교 구로병원 가정의학과)
  • Received : 2014.06.21
  • Accepted : 2014.07.16
  • Published : 2014.09.01
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Abstract

The major symptoms of terminally ill cancer patients are fatigue, loss of energy, feeling of helplessness, poor appetite and pain as well as general weakness, which are very similar to symptoms of adrenal insufficiency. Adrenal insufficiency-induced symptoms widely vary from mild symptoms to life-threatening conditions and may be resulted from variable medical causes. For terminally ill cancer patients who are hospitalized for palliative care, opioid agents are prescribed to control moderate to severe pain. The use of acute or chronic opioid agents is believed to negatively affect adrenal gland function. In most studies of opioid effects (preclinical/clinical with animal subjects or and patients suffering non-malignant pain, adrenal insufficiency and hormonal abnormalities were observed as side effects. However, opioid-induced adrenal insufficiency has been rarely reported in studies with patients with malignant cancer pain. Relationship between the type, treatment period, dosage of opioid agents and hormonal abnormalities can be examined by measuring the functional level of the adrenal glands. We hope to improve patient's quality of life by indicating hormone substitution to treat symptoms of adrenal insufficiency.

치료 불가능한 암환자들은 전신적 쇠약 이외에 피로와 에너지 상실, 무력감, 식욕부진 및 통증 등이 주요 증상으로 알려져 있으며, 이러한 증상들은 부신기능부전으로 인한 증상들과 매우 유사한 양상을 보인다. 부신기능부전으로 인한 증상들은 가벼운 증상부터 생명을 위협하는 증상까지 다양하게 나타날 수 있으며, 이러한 부신기능부전은 다양한 원인에 의해 나타난다. 완화의료병동에 입원 중인 말기암환자들 중 중등도 이상의 통증을 호소하는 환자들은 마약성 진통제를 사용하여 통증 조절을 받고 있는데, 이러한 마약성 진통제의 사용은 부신기능에 영향을 주는 것으로 알려져 있다. 동물 및 비암성 통증을 호소하는 환자 대상으로 여러 연구들이 시행되었으며 대부분의 연구에서 마약성 진통제로 인해 부신기능의 저하가 나타났음을 보여주었다. 그러나 아직 암환자를 대상으로 한 마약성 진통제로 인한 부신기능의 저하에 대한 연구 결과는 드물다. 마약성 진통제로 통증 조절을 받고 있는 완화의료병동에 입원한 말기암환자들의 부신기능을 측정함으로써 마약성 진통제의 종류, 사용기간 및 용량과 부신기능의 관계를 파악하고 이에 따른 대증치료 및 호르몬 보충 요법은 환자들의 예후 및 삶의 질 향상에 도움을 줄 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

Keywords

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