Table 2.
Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with normal HPA axis and HPA axis suppression.
| Characteristics | Normal HPA axis (n = 24) (64.9%) | HPA axis suppression (n = 13) (35.1%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gender | Male | 19 (79.2) | 10 (76.9) |
| Female | 5 (20.8) | 3 (23.1) | |
| Race | Malay | 16 (66.7) | 10 (76.9) |
| Chinese | 5 (20.8) | 1 (7.7) | |
| Indian | 3 (12.5) | 2 (15.4) | |
| Age at diagnosis, years, mean ± SD* | 3.83 ± 2.69 | 2.54 ± 0.80 | |
| Age at diagnosis | 0–5 years | 21 (87.5) | 13 (100) |
| 6–11 years | 2 (8.3) | 0 (0.0) | |
| 12–18 years | 1 (4.2) | 0 (0.0) | |
| Age at LDST, years, mean ± SD* | 10.44 ± 4.25 | 7.67 ± 1.32 | |
| Age at LDST | 0–5 years | 5 (20.8) | 2 (15.4) |
| 6–11 years | 10 (41.7) | 11 (84.6) | |
| 12–18 years | 9 (37.5) | 0 (0.0) | |
| Duration of illness, years, mean ± SD* | 6.61 ± 3.99 | 5.13 ± 1.86 | |
| Duration of illness | ≤ 5 years | 10 (41.7) | 6 (46.2) |
| > 5 years | 14 (58.3) | 7 (53.8) | |
| Duration of steroid use, weeks, mean ± SD* | 30.54 ± 35.31 | 66.05 ± 121.25 | |
| Duration of steroid use | <20 weeks | 13 (54.2) | 7 (53.8) |
| ≥ 20 weeks | 11 (45.8) | 6 (46.2) | |
| The dose of steroid use, mg/m2/days, mean (SD)* | 22.37 ± 8.30 | 25.63 ± 11.36 | |
| Steroid-dependent | No | 14 (58.3) | 3 (23.1) |
| Yes | 10 (41.7) | 10 (76.9) | |
| Frequent relapse | No | 20 (83.3) | 9 (69.2) |
| Yes | 4 (16.7) | 4 (30.8) | |
| Steroid toxic | No | 8 (33.3) | 6 (46.2) |
| Yes | 16 (66.7) | 7 (53.8) | |
| Use of steroid-sparing agent (SSA) | No | 9 (37.5) | 8 (61.5) |
| Yes | 15 (62.5) | 5 (38.5) | |
| Immuno-suppression prior to LDST | Prednisolone alone | 19 (79.2) | 11 (84.6) |
| Combination with SSA | 5 (20.8) | 2 (15.4) | |
| Comorbid diseases | No | 17 (70.8) | 11 (84.6) |
| Yes | 7 (29.2) | 2 (15.4) | |
| ACTH, pmol/L, mean ± SD | 20.52 ± 14.20 | 40.92 ± 85.14 | |
| ACTH Result | Normal | 22 (91.7) | 10 (76.9) |
| Abnormal | 2 (8.3) | 3 (23.1) | |
*
SD, standard deviation.