Adrenal gland disorder

Adrenal gland disorders (or diseases) are conditions that interfere with the normal functioning of the adrenal glands.^[1] Adrenal disorders may cause hyperfunction or hypofunction, and may be congenital or acquired.

The adrenal gland produces hormones that affects growth, development and stress, and also helps to regulate kidney function. There are two parts of the adrenal glands, the adrenal cortex and the adrenal medulla. The adrenal cortex produces mineralocorticoids, which regulate salt and water balance within the body, glucocorticoids (including cortisol) which have a wide number of roles within the body, and androgens, hormones with testosterone-like function.^[2] The adrenal medulla produces epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline).^[2] Disorders of the adrenal gland may affect the production of one or more of these hormones.

Tumors of the adrenal gland

• Adrenal adenoma, a benign tumor of the adrenal gland which may result in overproduction of one or more adrenal hormones, or may be inactive
• Adrenocortical carcinoma, cancer of the adrenal cortex
• Adrenal incidentaloma, an adrenal tumor (of any type) discovered accidentally during a scan which performed for an unrelated reason
• Pheochromocytoma, a catecholamine-producing tumor of the adrenal medulla, which may or may not be cancerous

Disorders of hormone over/under-production

• Addison's disease, also known as primary adrenal insufficiency, a disease in which the adrenal glands do not produce sufficient glucocorticoids (sometimes also mineralocorticoids) for a reason directly related to the adrenal gland itself, such as auto-immune damage to the adrenal gland or adrenal gland atrophy due to medication use
• Adrenal crisis, a life-threatening medical emergency resulting from insufficient levels of cortisol
• Adrenal insufficiency, a condition in which the adrenal glands do not produce sufficient glucocorticoids (or sometimes mineralocorticoids. This is often due to another adrenal disorder, such as Addison's Disease or Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia, however it may also result from a problem elsewhere in the body (such as the hypothalamus or pituitary gland) that leads to abnormalities in the production of hormones regulating adrenal function
• Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia, a hereditary disorder in which one of the enzymes involved in cortisol synthesis does not function properly. This disorder is also often associated with an over-production of androgen hormones.
• Cushing's disease, a disorder in which cortisol levels are abnormally high
• Hyperaldosteronism (including Conn's syndrome), a condition in which aldosterone is over-produced
• Hypoaldosteronism, a condition in which aldosterone is under-produced

Notable people with adrenal gland disorders

• John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States was diagnosed with Addison’s disease.^[3]
• Some have suggested Jane Austen was an avant la lettre case of Addison's Disease, but others have disputed this.^[4]
• Scientist Eugene Merle Shoemaker, co-discoverer of the Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 had Addison's Disease.^[5]

References