Addison’s disease

(noun)

Addison's disease (also chronic adrenal insufficiency, hypocortisolism, and hypoadrenalism) is a rare, chronic endocrine disorder in which the adrenal glands do not produce sufficient steroid hormones (glucocorticoids and often mineralocorticoids). It is characterized by a number of relatively nonspecific symptoms, such as abdominal pain and weakness, but under certain circumstances, these may progress to Addisonian crisis, a severe illness which may include very low blood pressure and coma.

Related Terms

Examples of Addison’s disease in the following topics:

  • Adrenal Gland Disorders

    • Addison's disease and congenital adrenal hyperplasia can manifest as adrenal insufficiency.
    • One subtype is called idiopathic or unknown cause of adrenal insufficiency. 80% are due to an autoimmune disease called Addison's disease or autoimmune adrenalitis.
    • Tertiary adrenal insufficiency is due to hypothalamic disease and decrease in corticotropin releasing factor (CRF).
    • Addison's can present with tanning of the skin that may be patchy or even all over the body.
    • Autoimmune adrenalitis may be part of Type 2 autoimmune polyglandular syndrome, (which can include type 1 diabetes), hyperthyroidism, autoimmune thyroid disease (also known as autoimmune thyroiditis and Hashimoto's disease).

  • Vitiligo

    • Addison's disease, typically an autoimmune destruction of the adrenal glands, may also cause vitiligo.

  • Other Hormonal Controls for Osmoregulation

    • Patients who have Addison's disease have a failing adrenal cortex and cannot produce aldosterone.

  • The Roles of Genetics and Gender in Autoimmune Disease

    • Any disease that results from such an aberrant immune response is termed an autoimmune disease.
    • Prominent examples include Coeliac disease, diabetes mellitus type 1 (IDDM), Sarcoidosis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjögren's syndrome, Churg-Strauss Syndrome, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Graves' disease, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, Addison's Disease, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and allergies.
    • Autoimmune diseases are very often treated with steroids.
    • Three main sets of genes are suspected in many autoimmune diseases.
    • A person's sex also seems to have some role in the development of autoimmunity, classifying most autoimmune diseases as sex-related diseases.

  • Cytotoxic Autoimmune Reactions

    • Any disease that results from such an aberrant immune response is termed an autoimmune disease.
    • Prominent examples include Coeliac disease, diabetes mellitus type 1 (IDDM), Sarcoidosis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjögren's syndrome, Churg-Strauss Syndrome, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Graves' disease, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, Addison's Disease, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and allergies.
    • Autoimmune diseases are very often treated with steroids.
    • A person's sex also seems to have some role in the development of autoimmunity, classifying most autoimmune diseases as sex-related diseases.
    • According to the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA), autoimmune diseases that develop in men tend to be more severe.

  • Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

    • Congenital adrenal hyperplasia refers to an autosomal recessive disease caused by mutated genes for enzymes that produce cortisol from cholesterol.
    • Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) refers to any of several autosomal recessive diseases resulting from mutations of genes for enzymes mediating the biochemical steps of production of cortisol from cholesterol by the adrenal glands (steroidogenesis).
    • CAH is one of the possible underlying synthesis problems in Addison's disease.

  • Hormonal Regulation of Stress

    • For example, cortisone is used as an anti-inflammatory medication; however, it cannot be used long term as it increases susceptibility to disease due to its immune-suppressing effects.
    • Hypersecretion of glucocorticoids can cause a condition known as Cushing's disease, characterized by a shifting of fat storage areas of the body.
    • Hyposecretion of the corticosteroids can cause Addison's disease, which may result in bronzing of the skin, hypoglycemia, and low electrolyte levels in the blood.

  • Pituitary Gland Disorders

    • ACTH deficiency is highly similar to primary Addison's disease, which is cortisol deficiency as the result of direct damage to the adrenal glands; the latter form, however, often leads to hyperpigmentation of the skin, which does not occur in ACTH deficiency.
    • This disease is found most likely in adults than in children, and increases during adolescent years.

  • References

  • Bibliography

    • Addison Wesley, 1994.