Addison's disease: Difference between revisions

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==Background==
==Background==
{{Addison's background}}
{{Addison's background}}
*Typically presents in adults between 30 and 50 years of age
**All ages, races, genders can be affected
*Higher incidence with other autoimmune deficiencies


==Clinical Presentation==
==Clinical Presentation==
*Abdominal pain
**Chronic nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
*Weakness and fatigue
*Salt craving
*Abnormal skin pigmentation - will often look patchy
*Addisonian Crisis
**Hypotension
**Neurologic Symptoms: coma


==Differential Diagnosis==
==Differential Diagnosis==
*Corticosteroid withdrawal
*Secondary adrenal insufficiency - deficiency of ACTH (produced by the pituitary gland)
*Tertiary adrenal insufficiency - deficiency of CRH (produced by the hypothalamus)


==Diagnosis==
==Diagnosis==
*Hypercalcemia
*Hypoglycemia
*Hyponatremia
*Hyperkalemia
*Metabolic Acidosis
**Low stimulation of the renal distal tubule by aldosterone = sodium wasting in the urine and H+ retention
*Testing
**ACTH stimulation test
***Dexamethasone
****Does not cross-react with the assay
****Can be administered concomitantly during testing


==Management==
==Management==
*Hormone Replacement<ref>de Herder WW, van der Lely AJ (May 2003). "Addisonian crisis and relative adrenal failure". Reviews in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders 4 (2): 143–7.</ref>
**PO hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone


==Disposition==
==Disposition==
*New Diagnosis: strong consideration for admission
*Crisis?: Consider admission based on electrolytes and clinical presentation


==See Also==
==See Also==


==External Links==
==External Links==


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 21:52, 3 April 2015

Background

  • Primary adrenal insufficiency
  • Bilateral adrenal destruction by tuberculosis used to be most common cause, now only accounts for 7-20% of cases
  • Autoimmune disease 70-90%, remainder caused by infectious disease, metastasis or lymphoma, adrenal hemorrhage, infarction, or drugs.
  • Typically presents in adults between 30 and 50 years of age
    • All ages, races, genders can be affected
  • Higher incidence with other autoimmune deficiencies

Clinical Presentation

  • Abdominal pain
    • Chronic nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
  • Weakness and fatigue
  • Salt craving
  • Abnormal skin pigmentation - will often look patchy
  • Addisonian Crisis
    • Hypotension
    • Neurologic Symptoms: coma

Differential Diagnosis

  • Corticosteroid withdrawal
  • Secondary adrenal insufficiency - deficiency of ACTH (produced by the pituitary gland)
  • Tertiary adrenal insufficiency - deficiency of CRH (produced by the hypothalamus)

Diagnosis

  • Hypercalcemia
  • Hypoglycemia
  • Hyponatremia
  • Hyperkalemia
  • Metabolic Acidosis
    • Low stimulation of the renal distal tubule by aldosterone = sodium wasting in the urine and H+ retention
  • Testing
    • ACTH stimulation test
      • Dexamethasone
        • Does not cross-react with the assay
        • Can be administered concomitantly during testing

Management

  • Hormone Replacement[1]
    • PO hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone

Disposition

  • New Diagnosis: strong consideration for admission
  • Crisis?: Consider admission based on electrolytes and clinical presentation

See Also

External Links

References

  1. de Herder WW, van der Lely AJ (May 2003). "Addisonian crisis and relative adrenal failure". Reviews in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders 4 (2): 143–7.