Plechner Alfred J
California Animal Hospital, 1736 S Sepulveda Blvd, Suite C, Los Angeles, CA 90025, USA.
J Appl Toxicol. 2004 Jan-Feb;24(1):53-8. doi: 10.1002/jat.947.
The adrenal cortex is regarded as the organ most vulnerable to toxicity within the endocrine system. The production of cortisol, among the many steroidal hormones produced by the cortex, may suffer as a result. In a veterinary clinical practice, household dogs and cats with a wide variety of diseases ranging from allergies to cancer commonly have a cortisol deficiency or defect that triggers endocrine imbalances and immune system destabilization. The causes of deficient cortisol are linked primarily to genetics but also to acquired adrenal damage likely stemming from environmental toxins. An innovative blood test to determine relevant endocrine-immune imbalances in pets and a treatment method based on low-dosage steroidal medication, as a form of cortisol replacement therapy, are described. Despite a prevailing reluctance to use steroidal medications long term because of the fear of side effects, extended and even life-time usage of these medications at low, physiologic dosages has been applied successfully for decades and appears to be gaining wider acceptance. The validity of a combined testing and treatment method for humans based on the veterinary model deserves investigation as a tool with which to identify and correct toxic damage to adrenal function.
肾上腺皮质被认为是内分泌系统中最易受毒性影响的器官。皮质产生的众多甾体激素中，皮质醇的生成可能会因此受到影响。在兽医临床实践中，患有从过敏到癌症等各种疾病的家犬和家猫通常存在皮质醇缺乏或缺陷，这会引发内分泌失衡和免疫系统不稳定。皮质醇缺乏的原因主要与遗传有关，但也与可能源于环境毒素的后天肾上腺损伤有关。本文描述了一种用于确定宠物相关内分泌 - 免疫失衡的创新血液检测方法，以及一种基于低剂量甾体药物的治疗方法，作为皮质醇替代疗法的一种形式。尽管由于担心副作用，长期使用甾体药物普遍存在顾虑，但这些药物以低生理剂量进行长期甚至终身使用已成功应用数十年，并且似乎正在获得更广泛的接受。基于兽医模型的人类联合检测和治疗方法的有效性，作为一种识别和纠正肾上腺功能毒性损伤的工具，值得研究。
