Adrenal insufficiency: diagnosis and management.
Adrenal insufficiency is a disorder characterized by hypoactive adrenal glands resulting in insufficient production of the hormones cortisol and aldosterone by the adrenal cortex. This disorder may develop as a primary failure of the adrenal cortex or be secondary to an abnormality of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. Patients with adrenal insufficiency often are asymptomatic or they may present with fatigue, muscle weakness, weight loss, low blood pressure, and sometimes darkening of the skin. The presentation of adrenal insufficiency varies dramatically and poses a major diagnostic dilemma. This review focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of primary and secondary adrenal insufficiency.
Minimally Invasive Urologic Surgery, Department of Urology, Hackensack University Medical Center, NJ 07601, USA. rmunver@humed.com
Ravi
R
Munver
Ilya A
IA
Volfson
D000304:Adrenal Cortex Function Tests; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000378:metabolism; D000309:Adrenal Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000096:biosynthesis
D000450:Aldosterone; D006854:Hydrocortisone