Adrenal insufficiency (patient information)

For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click here

WikiDoc Resources for Adrenal insufficiency (patient information)
Articles
Most recent articles on Adrenal insufficiency (patient information) Most cited articles on Adrenal insufficiency (patient information) Review articles on Adrenal insufficiency (patient information) Articles on Adrenal insufficiency (patient information) in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ
Media
Powerpoint slides on Adrenal insufficiency (patient information) Images of Adrenal insufficiency (patient information) Photos of Adrenal insufficiency (patient information) Podcasts & MP3s on Adrenal insufficiency (patient information) Videos on Adrenal insufficiency (patient information)
Evidence Based Medicine
Cochrane Collaboration on Adrenal insufficiency (patient information) Bandolier on Adrenal insufficiency (patient information) TRIP on Adrenal insufficiency (patient information)
Clinical Trials
Ongoing Trials on Adrenal insufficiency (patient information) at Clinical Trials.gov Trial results on Adrenal insufficiency (patient information) Clinical Trials on Adrenal insufficiency (patient information) at Google
Guidelines / Policies / Govt
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Adrenal insufficiency (patient information) NICE Guidance on Adrenal insufficiency (patient information) NHS PRODIGY Guidance FDA on Adrenal insufficiency (patient information) CDC on Adrenal insufficiency (patient information)
Books
Books on Adrenal insufficiency (patient information)
News
Adrenal insufficiency (patient information) in the news Be alerted to news on Adrenal insufficiency (patient information) News trends on Adrenal insufficiency (patient information)
Commentary
Blogs on Adrenal insufficiency (patient information)
Definitions
Definitions of Adrenal insufficiency (patient information)
Patient Resources / Community
Patient resources on Adrenal insufficiency (patient information) Discussion groups on Adrenal insufficiency (patient information) Patient Handouts on Adrenal insufficiency (patient information) Directions to Hospitals Treating Adrenal insufficiency (patient information) Risk calculators and risk factors for Adrenal insufficiency (patient information)
Healthcare Provider Resources
Symptoms of Adrenal insufficiency (patient information) Causes & Risk Factors for Adrenal insufficiency (patient information) Diagnostic studies for Adrenal insufficiency (patient information) Treatment of Adrenal insufficiency (patient information)
Continuing Medical Education (CME)
CME Programs on Adrenal insufficiency (patient information)
International
Adrenal insufficiency (patient information) en Espanol Adrenal insufficiency (patient information) en Francais
Business
Adrenal insufficiency (patient information) in the Marketplace Patents on Adrenal insufficiency (patient information)
Experimental / Informatics
List of terms related to Adrenal insufficiency (patient information)

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Jinhui Wu, MD

Please Join in Editing This Page and Apply to be an Editor-In-Chief for this topic: There can be one or more than one Editor-In-Chief. You may also apply to be an Associate Editor-In-Chief of one of the subtopics below. Please mail us [2] to indicate your interest in serving either as an Editor-In-Chief of the entire topic or as an Associate Editor-In-Chief for a subtopic. Please be sure to attach your CV and or biographical sketch.

How do I know if I have adrenal insufficiency and what are the symptoms of adrenal insufficiency?

The symptoms of adrenal insufficiency usually begin gradually. Usual symptoms include:

• Chronic, worsening fatigue
• Muscle weakness
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Hypotension
• Hypoglycemia
• Headache

Other health problems may also cause these symptoms. Only a doctor can tell for sure. A person with any of these symptoms should tell the doctor so that the problems can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.

Who is at risk for adrenal insufficiency?

• Genetic defects of adrenal gland
• Underactive parathyroid glands
• Pernicious anemia
• Chronic fungal infections
• Chronic active hepatitis
• Diabetes
• Vitiligo
• Tuberculosis
• Amyloidosis
• AIDS
• Cancer
• Surgical removal of the pituitary gland or hypothalamus

How to know you have adrenal insufficiency?

• ACTH stimulation test: The ACTH stimulation test is the most common test for patients who are suspected of diagnosing adrenal insufficiency. During this test, before and after being injected ACTH, the patient is detected with the level of blood cortisol and urine cortisol. In normal person, after an ACTH injection, it may show a rise in blood and urine cortisol levels. Patients with causes of adrenal insufficiency have little or no increase in cortisol levels.
• CRH stimulation test: This test can differ the primary and secondary adrenal insufficiency. In this test, the patient is injected synthetic CRH and measured blood cortisol before and 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes after the injection. The leval of blood cortisol in people with primary adrenal insufficiency such as Addison’s disease, demonatrates high levels of ACTH but no cortisol. For the patients with secondary adrenal insufficiency, they appear absent or delayed ACTH.
• Abdominal x-ray test: An x-ray image of abdomine allows the doctor to check the shape and size of the adrenal glands.
• Abdominal ultrasound: This is an painless test which uses sound waves to create a picture of the internal organs. It can help doctor reveal any signs in adrenal glands.
• Cranial CT and MRI: These imaging tests can confirm the size and shape of pituitary gland and hypothalamus and show the organs near them. It is useful for the diagnosis of secondary adrenal insufficiency. CT scan produce a series of x-ray pictures giving cross-sectional images. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan may show a three-dimensional image of this region.

When to seek urgent medical care?

The urgent, severe worsening symptoms adrenal insufficiency is called an addisonian crisis or acute adrenal insufficiency. It is fetal and needs urgent medical care. If you experience either of the following symptoms, seeking urgent medical care as soon as possible:

• Sudden, penetrating pain in the lower back, abdomen, or legs
• Severe vomiting and diarrhea
• Dehydration
• Hypotension
• Loss of consciousness

Diseases with similar symptoms

• Riehl's melanosis
• Hepatic cirrhosis
• Hemochromatosis
• Acanthosis nigricans

Where to find medical care for adrenal insufficiency?

Directions to Hospitals Treating adrenal insufficiency

Copyleft Sources

http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/294/19/2528.pdf

http://www.endocrine.niddk.nih.gov/pubs/addison/addison.htm