Addison’s disease

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Endocrine glands

Adrenocortical hypofunction; Chronic adrenocortical insufficiency; Primary adrenal insufficiency

• Extreme weakness
• Fatigue
• Unintentional weight loss
• Nausea and vomiting
• Chronic diarrhea
• Loss of appetite
• Darkening of the skin - patchy skin color
  • Unnaturally dark color in some locations
  • Paleness may also occur
• Mouth lesions on the inside of a cheek (buccal mucosa ) - pigmentation
• Slow, sluggish movement
• Changes in blood pressure or heart rate
• Salt craving

• Blood pressure is low.
• Cortisol level is low.
• Serum sodium is low.
• A potassium test may show increased potassium.
• An abdominal x-ray may show adrenal calcification.
• An abdominal CT scan may show adrenal calcification, enlargement or atrophy.
• Sex hormone levels will probably remain normal, because these hormones are also made by the ovaries or testes (and in larger amounts).

• Renin
• Potassium test
• Cortisol, urine
• CO2
• Aldosterone
• ACTH
• 24 hour urinary aldosterone excretion rate
• 17-ketosteroids
• 17-hydroxycorticosteroids
• Cortrosyn stimulation test (Cortrosyn is a man-made form of part of the ACTH hormone)
• Blood eosinophil count (a special white blood cell)

Review Date: 08/08/2006
Reviewed By: Robert Hurd, MD, Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network