Case 8 continued Glucocorticoids  Patients taking 5 to 20 mg/day of prednisone or its equivalent for more than three weeks may or may not have suppression of the HPA axis  In patients whose HPA axis status is uncertain, one can give glucocorticoids perioperatively or, if time permits, test for the responsiveness of the adrenal to ACTH stimulation  HPA axis suppression should be assumed to be present in patients taking prednisone at a dose greater than 20 mg/day for three weeks or more, and in patients with a Cushingoid appearance Salem, M, Tainsh, RE, Bromberg, J, et al.
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