Short Synthen Test.

[golfnutter]

My rheumatology nurse ordered a SST as I’m now sitting on 3 mgs of prednisone to check adrenal activity.

I didn’t take my prednisone prior to the blood test to ensure a correct baseline reading.

Results came through showing my serum cortisol was sitting at 560 which is on the high side.

Obviously my adrenal glands are functioning?. But is this a normal response given the prednisone is perhaps still boosting this level ? All my other blood results were completely normal.

Would appreciate please any comments or feedback many thanks.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Pred doesn't boost cortisol, it suppresses it. Is that the basal value? The value from the first blood sample taken before the injection? Or the second one? The normal range for the first one is 140-690 nmol/L.

Sounds as if your adrenal are awake and kicking!

[golfnutter in reply to PMRpro]

Many thanks for your really quick reply. I didn’t on hindsight have a SST ( Got that wrong sorry) it was just a simple blood cortisol serum blood test. As mentioned earlier, I refrained from taking my usual morning prednisone prior to the test.

Good news however, that all seems to be in working order 🙂. I have been on the prednisone for 3 years now slowly reducing 1/2 a mg a month at a time and sitting on each low reduction for another month before tapering again . This method works well and keeps the PMR under good control. Long may it last .

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to golfnutter]

Brilliant!

[SnazzyD]

Great news! However, keep carrying your steroid card with you and for a year after stopping. It isn’t a guarantee your cortisol producing system is yet fully reliable all of the time, especially if in an emergency. But, it’s a great start!

[golfnutter]

I’ve never been given a steroid card here in NZ don’t know why, but next time I speak to my GP or rheumatology nurse I will ask about the need to carry one. Many thanks for that info.

[Manihiki]

I am in New Zealand too and I wear a medical alert bracelet all the time

[Theziggy]

You could print this out pmrgca.org.uk/steroid-emerg...

[golfnutter in reply to Theziggy]

Thank you very much . Very Useful 🤗