Presentation
Two patients presented with irreversible shock and at autopsy adrenal tissue was recognized only microscopically. In 3 patients adrenal antibodies were present. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Entire Body System
- Weakness
A 59-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of muscular pain, weakness, and anorexia. He had been treated with 600 mg/day of fosfestrol, a synthetic estrogen, for 10 years for prostatic carcinoma. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Depends on the course of the disease: acute stage: the patient presents with fever, back pain, hypotension, weakness chronic stage : progressive lethargy, weakness, cutaneous pigmentation, weight loss Laboratory data chemistry: hyponatremia, hyperkalemia [radiopaedia.org]
- Anorexia
Jaundice and anorexia presenting together in the same patient as the main symptoms are rare. CASE REPORT We present a rare case of a 65-year-old woman diagnosed as having adrenocortical insufficiency with chief complaints of anorexia and jaundice. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Common non-specific symptoms include fatigue and weakness as well as nausea, vomiting, anorexia, and weight loss. Deficiencies in cortisol synthesis typically lead to hypoglycemia. [pathwaymedicine.org]
[…] to take medications GI: abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhoea CVS: dehydration, hypotension, refractory shock, poor response to inotropes/pressors fever confusion CHRONIC ADRENAL INSUFFICIENCY GENERAL: weight loss, arthralgia, myalgia CNS: fatigue, anorexia [litfl.com]
Clinical symptoms include anorexia; nausea; weight loss; muscle weakness; and hyperpigmentation of the skin due to increase in circulating levels of acth precursor hormone which stimulates melanocytes. [icd10data.com]
- Inflammation
Currettage biopsy of the prostate demonstrated chronic granulomatous inflammation with Langerhan's giant cells, but without TB bacilli. Anti-TB treatment, in addition to glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid replacement, was administered. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Secondary adrenal insufficiency can also arise when corticosteroid therapy (such as prednisone, which may be given to relieve inflammation in conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis ) is abruptly halted. [labtestsonline.org.au]
Inflammation cytokines (IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, TNF- a ) also influence production of CRH 2-5. [scielo.br]
Glucocorticoid regulation of inflammation and its functional correlates: From HPA axis to glucocorticoid receptor dysfunction. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2012;1261:55-63. Annane D, Pastores SM, Rochwerg B, et al. [reliasmedia.com]
- Swelling
Anyone receiving this therapy should be monitored by testing blood electrolyte levels and checking for symptoms like salt craving, light-headedness, blood pressure changes and swelling of the legs and feet. [endocrine.org]
Your ankles begin to swell. You develop new symptoms. On treatment, you develop signs of a disorder called Cushing syndrome If you have symptoms of adrenal crisis, give yourself an emergency injection of your prescribed medicine. [pennmedicine.org]
Your medicine may need to be adjusted if: You have high blood pressure that causes swelling. You have low blood pressure that leaves you light-headed. [myhealth.alberta.ca]
- Short Stature
We report on two brothers with achalasia, adrenocortical insufficiency, alacrima, short stature, microcephaly, ataxia, optic atrophy, and developmental delay. The parents and three sibs are unaffected. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Gastrointestinal
- Diarrhea
The most common symptoms include: Abdominal pain Abnormal menstrual periods Craving for salty food Dehydration Depression Diarrhea Irritability Lightheadedness or dizziness when standing up Loss of appetite Low blood glucose Low blood pressure Muscle [my.clevelandclinic.org]
Symptoms are the same as for Addison disease and include fatigue, weakness, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, but there is usually less hypovolemia. [msdmanuals.com]
Symptoms of an addisonian crisis, or acute adrenal insufficiency, include sudden penetrating pain in the lower back, abdomen, or legs, severe vomiting and diarrhea, dehydration, low blood pressure, and loss of consciousness. [medicinenet.com]
Symptoms may include: Severe vomiting and diarrhea. Extreme weakness. A high fever. Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. [myhealth.alberta.ca]
Some people experience nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. [hormone.org]
- Loss of Appetite
Her clinical symptoms (disturbance of consciousness, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, decrease in blood pressure, fever) and examination findings (low blood cortisol levels (1.2 μg/dl ), hypercalcemia (11.0 mg/dl ), peripheral blood eosinophilia (1,600 [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Weight loss. Profound weight loss is a prominent symptom. Loss of appetite. Diagnosis starts with a medical history and physical examination. If your doctor suspects adrenal insufficiency, he or she will check your blood cortisol and ACTH levels. [healthlinkbc.ca]
Common symptoms of adrenal insufficiency are: generalized weakness malaise easy fatigue loss of appetite weight loss Seizures can occur in association with hyponatremia. They are treated by correcting serum sodium and glucose concentrations. [epilepsy.com]
Symptoms & Causes The most common symptoms are fatigue, muscle weakness, loss of appetite, weight loss, and abdominal pain. [niddk.nih.gov]
Cardiovascular
- Hypotension
Abstract Five preterm, very low birthweight infants with severe hypotension and adrenocortical insufficiency are described. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Clinical presentations of inotrope-resistant refractory hypotension are usually evident, but interpretation of serum cortisol may pose much difficulty to front-line neonatologists. [fn.bmj.com]
- Hypertension
Hypertension persisted, and severe dehydration and hyponatremia developed, but all responded to normal saline administered intravenously. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Ultimately, aldosterone release can lead to hypertension and edema. [pharmacytimes.com]
Interestingly, all of these patients had no history of hypertension or heart disease. [intechopen.com]
High doses of hydrocortisone can cause hypertension, salt and water retention, and increased excretion of potassium 45 owing to saturation of the 11β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11β‐HSD‐2) isoenzyme in the kidney, allowing access of hydrocortisone [onlinelibrary.wiley.com]
- Orthostatic Hypotension
Although there are classic clinical signs (eg, fatigue, orthostatic hypotension, hyperpigmentation, hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, and hypoglycemia) of adrenal insufficiency, its early clinical presentation is most commonly vague and undefined, requiring [pedsinreview.aappublications.org]
A gradual decrease of cortisol levels often goes unnoticed, symptoms may include fatigue, orthostatic hypotension (low blood pressure when standing or getting up), weight loss, browning of the skin and gums. [adrenoleukodystrophy.info]
Additional signs and symptoms include weakness, tiredness, dizziness, low blood pressure that falls further when standing ( orthostatic hypotension ), cardiovascular collapse, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. [en.wikipedia.org]
- Vascular Disease
Aetiology of PAI Aetiology Autoimmune disease Infiltrative disease (e.g. [onlinelibrary.wiley.com]
- Heart Disease
Interestingly, all of these patients had no history of hypertension or heart disease. [intechopen.com]
Urogenital
- Kidney Failure
failure Shock These symptoms may look like other health problems. [hopkinsmedicine.org]
If not treated, adrenal insufficiency may result in severe abdominal pains, vomiting, profound muscle weakness and fatigue, depression, extremely low blood pressure ( hypotension ), weight loss, kidney failure, changes in mood and personality, and shock [en.wikipedia.org]
In an adrenal crisis, the signs and symptoms may include: Abdominal pain Difficulty breathing Kidney failure Loss of consciousness Low blood pressure Severe pain in the lower back, abdomen or legs Severe vomiting and diarrhea, leading to dehydration Shock [labtestsonline.org]
An addisonian crisis is a medical emergency that can cause life-threatening complications such as shock or kidney failure if not treated. [rarediseases.org]
- Renal Insufficiency
Septic shock in newborns may result in adrenal hemorrhage with rhabdomyolysis and renal insufficiency. Etiologies of secondary AI are summarized below. Basically, they are consequences of any insult at the level of hypothalamic-pituitary areas. [cancertherapyadvisor.com]
Workup
Pediatric Adrenal Insufficiency (Addison Disease) Workup. Medscape Reference. Available online at http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/919077-workup. Accessed February 2017. Johannsson G, et al. [labtestsonline.org]
^ Addison Disease~workup at eMedicine Further reading [ edit ] Bornstein, SR; Allolio, B; Arlt, W; Barthel, A; Don-Wauchope, A; Hammer, GD; Husebye, ES; Merke, DP; Murad, MH; Stratakis, CA; Torpy, DJ (February 2016). [en.wikipedia.org]
Further workup of anemia revealed hypochromic cells with anysocytosis on peripheral blood smear, serum iron 20 µg/dL, total iron binding capacity 108 µg/dL and iron saturation 22%. [asean-endocrinejournal.org]
Thomas Addison first described the clinical presentation of primary adrenocortical insufficiency in 1855 in his classic paper, On the Constitutional and Local Effects of Disease of the Supra-Renal Capsules. [1] Workup The diagnosis of adrenocortical insufficiency [emedicine.medscape.com]
This diagnostic workup typically is conducted in an outpatient or inpatient setting by the patient’s primary care physician or specialist. 25 The emergency physician may facilitate the diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency in suspected patients by sending [reliasmedia.com]
Serum
- Hyponatremia
Hypertension persisted, and severe dehydration and hyponatremia developed, but all responded to normal saline administered intravenously. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
[…] deficiency) due to salt wasting from mineralocorticoid deficiency Secondary disease: Hyponatremia alone. [openanesthesia.org]
Common symptoms of adrenal insufficiency are: generalized weakness malaise easy fatigue loss of appetite weight loss Seizures can occur in association with hyponatremia. They are treated by correcting serum sodium and glucose concentrations. [epilepsy.com]
Patients with long-standing adrenal insufficiency can present with postural hypotension, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, anorexia, lethargy, depression, and/or chronic hyponatremia. [amboss.com]
Treatment
The profound hypotension was resistant to volume expansion and inotrope treatment, but responded promptly to corticosteroid treatment. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Prognosis
Prognosis Prognosis varies depending on the etiologies, but is generally correlated with the rapidity of diagnosis and medical assistance. Death is rare when the patients receive appropriate medical assistance. [orpha.net]
Expectations (prognosis): Patients usually respond to administration of glucocorticoids. Long-term prognosis depends on the degree of dependence on these drugs and any resulting complications. [uclahealth.org]
[…] adrenalitis): enlargement of both adrenal glands, with necrotic centers and peripheral enhancing rims chronic : both adrenal glands appear small and atrophic, associated with calcifications ( adrenal calcification ) in granulomatous adrenalitis Treatment and prognosis [radiopaedia.org]
Outlook and Prognosis for Individuals With Adrenal Insufficiency If treated properly, individuals with adrenal insufficiency can live long, healthy, and active lives. [medstarwashington.org]
Outlook (Prognosis) With hormone therapy, many people with Addison disease are able to lead a nearly normal life. Possible Complications Complications can occur if you take too little or too much adrenal hormone. [pennmedicine.org]
Etiology
Overview Chronic Adrenocortical Insufficiency can be caused by a variety of etiologies. [pathwaymedicine.org]
Creatine kinase and triglyceride levels were measured to elucidate the etiology of adrenal hypoplasia and were above normal limits in both cases. Both patients required steroid and salt supplementation. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Etiology Steroid withdrawal is the most common cause of AAI in patients with chronic adrenal insufficiency. [orpha.net]
Furthermore, aldosterone deficiency leads to low levels of sodium and high levels of potassium in the blood. 21-Hydroxylase Antibody Testing A positive 21-hydroxylase antibody test result confirms an autoimmune etiology of PAI, in which the body’s own [arupconsult.com]
Epidemiology
Summary Epidemiology Exact prevalence of acute adrenal insufficiency is unknown. Clinical description The disease may occur at any age. The onset is often sudden. The initial presentation may be limited to abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and fever. [orpha.net]
Epidemiology Frequency United States The prevalence of Addison disease is 40-60 cases per 1 million population. International The occurrence of Addison disease is rare. [emedicine.medscape.com]
Epidemiology and Etiology Primary Adrenal Insufficiency The most common cause of primary adrenal insufficiency during the first part of the 20th century was tuberculosis. [reliasmedia.com]
Clin Chem 57:1607–1611 Article CAS PubMed Google Scholar Hannemann A, Bidlingmaier M, Friedrich N et al. (2012) Screening for primary aldosteronism in hypertensive subjects: results from two German epidemiological studies. [link.springer.com]
On the other hand, studies in animal models and epidemiology studies in human raised the concerns of potential adverse effects of steroids on the developing brain. [cancertherapyadvisor.com]
Pathophysiology
The case highlights the importance of systematically performing exhaustive postmortem biochemical investigations to formulate appropriate hypothesis regarding the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in the death process. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
This review examines the salient pathophysiology of adrenocortical insufficiency in the immediate postnatal period, characterises its endocrinological abnormalities, and describes the typical and variant clinical presentations. [fn.bmj.com]
References: [5] [1] [6] Pathophysiology For basic information on the adrenal gland and its functions, see hormones of the adrenal cortex. [amboss.com]
The underlying pathophysiology of APS-2 is not fully understood. Classic lipoid congenital adrenal hyperplasia (LCAH; OMIM No. 201710) due to mutations in the STAR protein gene is a very severe form of adrenal hyperplasia. [karger.com]
Prevention
The present study addresses the prevention of these unpleasant and hazardous situations, with a review of the different corticoid replacement therapies applicable in dental practice. [Indexed for MEDLINE] Free full text [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Called also myocardial ischemia. ileocecal insufficiency inability of the ileocecal valve to prevent backflow of contents from the cecum into the ileum. placental insufficiency dysfunction of the placenta, with reduction in the area of exchange of nutrients [medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com]
Adrenal crisis can generally be prevented by increasing (doubling or tripling) the steroid dose during illness or other physical stress. [uclahealth.org]
Topic Overview Secondary adrenocortical insufficiency is a condition in which a lack of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) prevents the body from producing enough cortisol. Production of cortisol is controlled by the action of ACTH. [healthlinkbc.ca]