Addison's disease: Difference between revisions

(Text replacement - "Category:Endo" to "Category:Endocrinology")
(Text replacement - "==Diagnosis==" to "==Evaluation==")
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*Tertiary adrenal insufficiency - deficiency of CRH (produced by the hypothalamus)
*Tertiary adrenal insufficiency - deficiency of CRH (produced by the hypothalamus)


==Diagnosis==
==Evaluation==
===Laboratory findings===
===Laboratory findings===
*[[Hypercalcemia]]
*[[Hypercalcemia]]
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**Low stimulation of the renal distal tubule by aldosterone = sodium wasting in the urine and H+ retention
**Low stimulation of the renal distal tubule by aldosterone = sodium wasting in the urine and H+ retention


===Diagnosis===
===Evaluation===
*Chemistry
*Chemistry
*Random cortisol, renin, and ACTH levels
*Random cortisol, renin, and ACTH levels

Revision as of 12:08, 26 July 2016

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 Features

  • Abdominal pain
  • 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)

Evaluation

Laboratory findings

Evaluation

Management

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.