Figure 2.

Hydrocortisone replacement reduces GDF15 in primary adrenal insufficiency. (A) Ten adult volunteers with Addison’s disease who had glucocorticoid therapy withdrawn demonstrated significantly lower GDF15 levels following a 22-h intravenous infusion of hydrocortisone (red circles) compared to the equivalent infusion of normal saline (black circles). (B) GDF15 levels reduced significantly from baseline measurements following infusion of hydrocortisone in 8 participants with Addison’s disease following withdrawal of glucocorticoid therapy. (C) Among 9 participants with CAH whose glucocorticoid therapy was withdrawn, baseline GDF15 levels did not differ significantly between placebo (black circles) and hydrocortisone (black squares) visits. GDF15 levels were significantly lower in participants (n = 8) who received the hydrocortisone infusion (red squares) when compared to those receiving placebo (red circles). Data expressed as mean ± standard deviation and compared using a paired t-test, *P < .05 and **P < .01.