Addison's disease is a disorder where the adrenal glands do not produce enough cortisol and often aldosterone. It can be caused by primary adrenal insufficiency where the adrenal cortex is damaged, usually from an autoimmune disorder, or secondary adrenal insufficiency where the pituitary gland does not produce enough ACTH hormone. Symptoms include extreme fatigue, weight loss, low blood pressure, and dark skin pigmentation. Treatment involves medication to replace the missing hormones like hydrocortisone or fludrocortisone. Patients also need to increase corticosteroid doses when sick and consume more salt.

1. WHATISADDISON'SDISEASE
Primary adrenal insufficiency
Secondary adrenal insufficiency
When the cortex is damaged and doesn't produce enough
adrenocortical hormones. This is most commonly the result of
the body attacking itself (autoimmune disease).
The pituitary gland makes a hormone called adrenocorticotropic
hormone (ACTH). Inflammation and prior pituitary surgery are
common causes of not producing enough pituitary hormone. Too
little ACTH can lead to too little of the glucocorticoids and
androgens normally produced by your adrenal glands, even
though your adrenal glands themselves aren't damaged. This is
called secondary adrenal insufficiency. A temporary cause of
secondary adrenal insufficiency occurs when people who take
corticosteroids (for example, prednisone) to treat chronic
conditions, such as asthma or arthritis, stop taking the
corticosteroids all at once rather than tapering off.
is an uncommon disorder that occurs when your body doesn't produce enough of certain hormones. In Addison's
disease, your adrenal glands, located just above your kidneys, produce too little cortisol and, often, too little
aldosterone.
Addison's disease occurs in all age groups and both sexes, and can be life-threatening. Treatment involves
taking hormones to replace those that are missing.
Some people with Addison's disease worry about serious side effects from hydrocortisone or prednisone because they know these occur in people who take
these steroids for other reasons.
However, if you have Addison's disease, the adverse effects of high-dose glucocorticoids should not occur, since the dose you are prescribed is replacing the
amount that is missing. Make sure to follow up with your doctor on a regular basis to make sure your dose is not too high.
Talk to your doctor if you always feel tired, weak, or are losing weight. Ask about having an adrenal
shortage.
If you have been diagnosed with Addison's disease, ask your doctor about what to do when you're sick. You
may need to learn how to increase your dose of corticosteroids.
If you become very sick, especially if you are vomiting and you can't take your medication, go to the
emergency room.
PREVENTION
ADDISON'SDISEASE
Extreme fatigue
Weight loss and decreased appetite
Darkening of your skin (hyperpigmentation)
Low blood pressure, even fainting
Salt craving
Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
Nausea, diarrhea or vomiting (gastrointestinal
symptoms)
Abdominal pain
Muscle or joint pains
Irritability
Depression or other behavioral symptoms
Body hair loss or sexual dysfunction in women
Addison's disease symptoms usually develop slowly,
often over several months. Often, the disease
progresses so slowly that symptoms are ignored
until a stress, such as illness or injury, occurs and
makes symptoms worse. Signs and symptoms may
include:
Hydrocortisone (Cortef), prednisone or methylprednisolone
Fludrocortisone acetate
All treatment for Addison's disease involves medication. You will
be given hormone replacement therapy to correct the levels of
steroid hormones your body isn't producing. Some options for
treatment include oral corticosteroids such as:
You will need to get plenty of salt (sodium) in your diet,
especially during heavy exercise, when the weather is hot or if
you have gastrointestinal upsets, such as diarrhea.
also called adrenal insufficiency
CAUSES
น.ส.อรณิศวร เจียมศรีพงษ เลขที่ 23 หอง 155
SYMPTOMS
TREATMENT

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