Primary adrenal insufficiency (AI) due to bilateral adrenalectomy is not uncommon and causes skin hyperpigmentation, which worsens quality of life. Case description: A 50-year-old lady presented with skin hyperpigmentation after spare adrenalectomy for recurrent primary aldosteronism. In 2002 she has her first unilateral adrenalectomy and was cured at follow-up. After 16 years she developed primary aldosteronism, which was treated by spare adrenalectomy. She thereafter developed AI and started glucocorticoid replacing therapy, which did not prevent the development of full-blown skin hyperpigmentation. The addition of a low dose of dexamethasone (0.5 mg/day) to the ongoing adrenal replacement therapy normalized her plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels and regressed skin hyperpigmentation without causing Cushing-like symptoms or signs. Conclusions: This clinical case provides compelling evidence for a place for low-dose dexamethasone for regressing skin pigmentation in patients with primary AI.
Keywords: adrenal insufficiency; adrenalectomy; dexamethasone; glucocorticoid replacement therapy; primary aldosteronism.