If a patient chronically takes exogenous glucocorticoids to suppress inflammation, which consequence follows due to negative feedback?

💡 Explanation

Chronic use of exogenous glucocorticoids suppresses the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis because the increased cortisol levels inhibit the release of CRH and ACTH. This leads to decreased stimulation of the adrenal cortex; therefore, adrenal gland atrophy occurs rather than increased hormone synthesis.

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