Addison Disease: MedlinePlus

Addison Disease: MedlinePlus
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National Institutes of Health

Addison Disease

Also called: Adrenal insufficiency, Adrenocortical hypofunction, Hypocortisolism 

Your adrenal glands are just above your kidneys. The outside layer of these glands makes hormones that help your body respond to stress and regulate your blood pressure and water and salt balance. Addison disease happens if the adrenal glands don't make enough of these hormones.

A problem with your immune system usually causes Addison disease. The immune system mistakenly attacks your own tissues, damaging your adrenal glands. Other causes include infections and cancer.

Symptoms include

• Weight loss
• Muscle weakness
• Fatigue that gets worse over time
• Low blood pressure
• Patchy or dark skin

Lab tests can confirm that you have Addison disease. If you don't treat it, it can be fatal. You will need to take hormone pills for the rest of your life. If you have Addison disease, you should carry an emergency ID. It should say that you have the disease, list your medicines and say how much you need in an emergency.

NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA  

• 17-hydroxycorticosteroids
• 24-hour urinary aldosterone excretion rate
• ACTH
• ACTH (cosyntropin) stimulation test
• Acute adrenal crisis
• Addison's disease
• Cortisol - urine
• Cortisol level

Related Topics

• Adrenal Gland Disorders
• Endocrine System
• Immune System

National Institutes of Health

• The primary NIH organization for research on Addison Disease is theNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

• Start Here

  • Adrenal Insufficiency and Addison's Disease(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

• Overviews

  • Addison's Disease(American Academy of Family Physicians)
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Addison's Disease(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
  • Adrenal Insufficiency (Addison's Disease)(UpToDate)

• Diagnosis/Symptoms

  • ACTH (Adrenocorticotropic Hormone) Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
  • Aldosterone and Renin Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
  • Cortisol Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)

• Disease Management

  • Managing Adrenal Insufficiency(National Institutes of Health, Clinical Center) - PDF

• Clinical Trials

  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Adrenal Insufficiency(National Institutes of Health)
  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Addison's Disease(National Institutes of Health)
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• Journal Articles

  References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
  • Article: A 62-year-old man with hypotension, hyperkalemia, and hyponatremia.
  • Article: Case records of the Massachusetts General Hospital. Case 16-2013. A...
  • Article: President Kennedy's White House tan.
  • Addison Disease -- see more articles
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• Directories

  • Directory of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases Organizations(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
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• Organizations

  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
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• Patient Handouts

  • 17-hydroxycorticosteroids
  • Also available in Spanish
  • 24-hour urinary aldosterone excretion rate
  • Also available in Spanish
  • ACTH
  • Also available in Spanish
  • ACTH (cosyntropin) stimulation test
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Acute adrenal crisis
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Addison's disease
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Return to top