What is the difference between Addison's disease and adrenal insufficiency?

Adrenal insufficiency is a disorder that occurs when the adrenal glands don't make enough of certain hormones. The adrenal glands are located just above the kidneys. Adrenal insufficiency can be primary, secondary, or tertiary. Primary adrenal insufficiency is often called Addison's disease.

What are the signs and symptoms of adrenal insufficiency?

The most common symptoms are fatigue, muscle weakness, loss of appetite, weight loss, and abdominal pain. Adrenal insufficiency can be caused by autoimmune disease or suddenly stopping steroid medicines used to treat other conditions, among other causes.

Can adrenal insufficiency be cured?

Adrenal insufficiency can be confirmed or ruled out with blood tests. Although there's no cure, primary adrenal insufficiency can be managed effectively by taking cortisol and aldosterone replacement hormones, with the goal of stabilizing hormone levels and relieving signs and symptoms.

What is the most common cause of adrenal insufficiency?

Different types of adrenal insufficiency have different causes. The most common cause of adrenal insufficiency overall is suddenly stopping corticosteroids after taking them for a long time.

What are the two types of Addison's disease?

The primary type is known as Addison disease. It's rare. It's when the adrenal glands don't make enough of the hormones cortisol and aldosterone. The secondary type occurs when the pituitary gland doesn't make enough of the hormone ACTH.

Primary adrenal insufficiency (Addison's disease) - pathology, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment

How serious is adrenal insufficiency?

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.

What triggers Addison's disease?

Addison's disease is caused by an autoimmune response, which occurs when the body's immune system (which protects it from infection) assaults its own organs and tissues. With Addison's disease, the immune system attacks the outer portion of the adrenal glands (the cortex), where cortisol and aldosterone are made.

When should you suspect adrenal insufficiency?

The clinical symptoms of adrenal insufficiency include weakness, fatigue, anorexia, abdominal pain, weight loss, orthostatic hypotension, salt craving, and characteristic hyperpigmentation of the skin occurring with primary adrenocortical failure (4, 5).

What can be done for adrenal insufficiency?

How do doctors treat adrenal insufficiency? Your doctor will prescribe hormone medicines to replace the hormones that your adrenal glands aren't making. You'll need higher doses during times of physical stress.

What cortisol level indicates Addison's disease?

Two criteria are necessary for diagnosis: (1) an increase in the baseline cortisol value of 7 mcg/dL or more and (2) the value must rise to 20 mcg/dL or more in 30 or 60 minutes, establishing normal adrenal glucocorticoid function.

Which patient is most likely to have Addison's?

Women are more likely than men to develop Addison's disease. This condition occurs most often in people between the ages of 30 and 50, ² although it can occur at any age, even in children. Secondary adrenal insufficiency occurs in people with certain conditions that affect the pituitary.

What happens if you don't treat adrenal insufficiency?

If not treated, adrenal insufficiency may lead to: Severe belly (abdominal) pain. Extreme weakness. Low blood pressure.

How do endocrinologists treat adrenal insufficiency?

Treatment involves taking corticosteroids, a drug that mimics cortisol, for the rest of your life to replace the hormones that your body is not producing. Your endocrinologist will order tests periodically to ensure that your hormone levels are normal.

What is similar to Addison's disease?

There are many types of adrenal gland disorders, including: Addison's Disease - a condition in which the adrenal glands don't make enough cortisol. Cushing's Syndrome - a condition caused by too much cortisol in the body, often from taking steroid medicines for a long time.

What is the test for Addison's disease?

Blood test.

Tests can measure your blood levels of sodium, potassium, cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which stimulates the adrenal cortex to produce its hormones. A blood test can also measure antibodies associated with autoimmune Addison's disease.

Can adrenal insufficiency cause weight gain?

When cortisol levels increase, the cells of our body can become resistant to insulin. In turn, this may lead to an increase in blood sugar, weight gain and potentially Type 2 Diabetes. When cortisol levels drop excessively this is known as adrenal exhaustion.

Is prednisone used for adrenal insufficiency?

Hydrocortisone is commonly used as glucocorticoid replacement, in 3 quarters of patients with adrenal insufficiency, followed by prednisone/prednisolone and cortisol acetate in 11 and 6% of the patients with adrenal insufficiency, respectively [6].

How do you check for adrenal insufficiency?

The ACTH stimulation test is the test used most often to diagnose adrenal insufficiency. In this test, a health care professional will give you an intravenous (IV) injection of man-made ACTH, which is just like the ACTH your body makes.

How long does it take to recover from adrenal insufficiency?

Typically, the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis recovers after cessation of glucocorticoids, but the timing of recovery can be variable and can take anywhere from 6–12 months.

Which medications may cause adrenal insufficiency?

What does low cortisol feel like?

Low levels of cortisol can cause weakness, fatigue, and low blood pressure. You may have more symptoms if you have untreated Addison's disease or damaged adrenal glands due to severe stress, such as from a car accident or an infection. These symptoms include sudden dizziness, vomiting, and even loss of consciousness.

What blood test shows adrenal fatigue?

A cortisol test measures the level of cortisol in your blood, urine, or saliva. Blood tests are the most common way of measuring cortisol. If your cortisol levels are too high or too low, it may mean you have a disorder of your adrenal glands. These disorders can be serious if not treated.

What are the stages of Addison's disease?

Addison's disease stages

Stage 0: Normal adrenal function. Stage 1: You may have increased plasma renin with normal or low levels of aldosterone but no other abnormal results. Stage 2: You're likely to have high renin levels and low aldosterone levels.

What does your skin look like with Addison's disease?

Another common initial symptom of Addison's disease is the development of patches of skin that are darker than the surrounding skin (hyperpigmentation). This discoloration most commonly occurs near scars, by skin creases such as the knuckles, and on the mucous membranes such as the gums.

What foods to avoid if you have Addison's disease?