Adrenocortical Function in the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Excerpt

To the editor: Many patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome have a number of symptoms, including weight loss, weakness, and diarrhea (1). These symptoms may antedate the opportunistic infections and Kaposi's sarcoma. Because the cause of such symptoms is unexplained in many patients with the syndrome, and the symptoms are similar to those seen in patients with adrenal insufficiency (2), a study of adrenal cortical function was done in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Five patients with the syndrome, age 28 to 44 years, were studied. These patients included three women and two men. Three patients had had Pneumocystis