OverviewAddison's disease, also called adrenal insufficiency, is an uncommon disorder that occurs when your body doesn't produce enough of certain hormones. In Addison's disease, your adrenal glands, located just above your kidneys, produce too little cortisol and, often, too little aldosterone. Show
Addison's disease occurs in all age groups and both sexes, and can be life-threatening. Treatment involves taking hormones to replace those that are missing. SymptomsAddison's disease symptoms usually develop slowly, often over several months. Often, the disease progresses so slowly that symptoms are ignored until a stress, such as illness or injury, occurs and makes symptoms worse. Signs and symptoms may include:
Acute adrenal failure (addisonian crisis)Sometimes the signs and symptoms of Addison's disease may appear suddenly. Acute adrenal failure (addisonian crisis) can lead to life-threatening shock. Seek emergency medical treatment if you experience the following signs and symptoms:
In an addisonian crisis you will also have:
When to see a doctorSee your doctor if you have common signs and symptoms of Addison's disease, such as:
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Primary adrenal insufficiencyWhen the cortex is damaged and doesn't produce enough adrenocortical hormones, the condition is called primary adrenal insufficiency. This is most commonly the result of the body attacking itself (autoimmune disease). For unknown reasons, your immune system views the adrenal cortex as foreign, something to attack and destroy. People with Addison's disease are more likely than others to have another autoimmune disease as well. Other causes of adrenal gland failure may include:
Secondary adrenal insufficiencyThe pituitary gland makes a hormone called adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). ACTH in turn stimulates the adrenal cortex to produce its hormones. Benign pituitary tumors, inflammation and prior pituitary surgery are common causes of not producing enough pituitary hormone. Too little ACTH can lead to too little of the glucocorticoids and androgens normally produced by your adrenal glands, even though your adrenal glands themselves aren't damaged. This is called secondary adrenal insufficiency. Mineralocorticoid production is not affected by too little ACTH. Most symptoms of secondary adrenal insufficiency are similar to those of primary adrenal insufficiency. However, people with secondary adrenal insufficiency don't have hyperpigmentation and are less likely to have severe dehydration or low blood pressure. They're more likely to have low blood sugar. A temporary cause of secondary adrenal insufficiency occurs when people who take corticosteroids (for example, prednisone) to treat chronic conditions, such as asthma or arthritis, stop taking the corticosteroids all at once rather than tapering off. ComplicationsAddisonian crisisIf you have untreated Addison's disease, you may develop an addisonian crisis as a result of physical stress, such as an injury, infection or illness. Normally, the adrenal glands produce two to three times the usual amount of cortisol in response to physical stress. With adrenal insufficiency, the inability to increase cortisol production with stress can lead to an addisonian crisis. An addisonian crisis is a life-threatening situation that results in low blood pressure, low blood levels of sugar and high blood levels of potassium. You will need immediate medical care. People with Addison's disease commonly have associated autoimmune diseases. PreventionAddison's disease can't be prevented, but there are steps you can take to avoid an addisonian crisis:
Some people with Addison's disease worry about serious side effects from hydrocortisone or prednisone because they know these occur in people who take these steroids for other reasons. However, if you have Addison's disease, the adverse effects of high-dose glucocorticoids should not occur, since the dose you are prescribed is replacing the amount that is missing. Make sure to follow up with your doctor on a regular basis to make sure your dose is not too high. Nov. 24, 2020 Which is the secondary cause of adrenal insufficiency?Secondary adrenal insufficiency occurs when the pituitary gland doesn't make enough of the hormone ACTH. The adrenal glands then don't make enough cortisol. Mild symptoms may be seen only when a person is under physical stress. Other symptoms may include weakness, fatigue, and weight loss.
Which hormone deficiency may lead to a life threatening condition?Adrenal crisis is a serious condition that can cause death in people who lack the pituitary hormone ACTH.
What is adrenocortical insufficiency?Adrenal insufficiency, including Addison's disease, is a disorder that occurs when the adrenal glands don't make enough of certain hormones. These include cortisol, sometimes called the “stress hormone,” which is essential for life.
What causes ACTH release?When cortisol levels are low, your hypothalamus releases corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH). CRH stimulates your anterior pituitary lobe to release ACTH. ACTH then triggers your adrenal glands, specifically your adrenal cortex, to release cortisol and androgens.
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