Adrenal insufficiency 548913 224786556 2008-07-10T12:17:39Z Arcadian 104523 refs, defs {{Infobox_Disease | Name = {{PAGENAME}} | Image = | Caption = | DiseasesDB = | ICD10 = {{ICD10|E|27|1|e|20}}-{{ICD10|E|27|4|e|20}} | ICD9 = {{ICD9|255.4}} | ICDO = | OMIM = | MedlinePlus = | eMedicineSubj = emerg | eMedicineTopic = 16 | MeshID = D000309 | }} In [[medicine]], '''adrenal insufficiency''' (or "hypocortisolism") is the inability of the [[adrenal gland]] to produce needed products,<ref name="urlJAMA -- Adrenal Insufficiency, November 16, 2005, Brender et al. 294 (19): 2528">{{cite web |url=http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/294/19/2528 |title=JAMA -- Adrenal Insufficiency, November 16, 2005, Brender et al. 294 (19): 2528 |format= |work= |accessdate=}}</ref><ref name="urlDorlands Medical Dictionary:adrenal insufficiency">{{cite web |url=http://www.mercksource.com/pp/us/cns/cns_hl_dorlands_split.jsp?pg=/ppdocs/us/common/dorlands/dorland/four/000053970.htm |title=Dorlands Medical Dictionary:adrenal insufficiency |format= |work= |accessdate=}}</ref> primarily [[corticosteroid]]s.<ref>{{MeshName|Adrenal+Insufficiency}}</ref> Although the lack of production is directly associated with the adrenal, the root cause may be elsewhere. For example, secondary adrenal insufficiency can be associated with a lack of production of [[ACTH]] in the [[pituitary]].<ref name="urlSecondary Adrenal Insufficiency: Adrenal Disorders: Merck Manual Professional">{{cite web |url=http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec12/ch153/ch153c.html |title=Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency: Adrenal Disorders: Merck Manual Professional |format= |work= |accessdate=}}</ref> ==Causes== Causes can include: * '''Acute adrenal insufficiency''' ** [[Addison's disease]] ([[autoimmune]] adrenalitis) ** [[Septic shock]] ** [[Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome]] ** [[Addison's disease#Addisonian crisis|Addisonian crisis]] in case of: *** Discontinuing [[corticosteroid]] therapy without tapering the dosage *** Surgery, illness or any other form of stress in patients with long-term [[corticosteroid]] therapy * '''Chronic adrenal insufficiency''' ** [[Addison's disease]] ** [[congenital adrenal hyperplasia|Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia]] ** [[antiphospholipid syndrome]] ** [[haemochromatosis]] ==See also== *[[Cushing's syndrome]] *[[Insulin tolerance test]] *[[ACTH stimulation test]] *[[Hypoadrenia]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * [http://www.hmc.psu.edu/healthinfo/a/adrenalinsufficiency.htm Penn State] * [http://congenitaladrenalhyperplasia.org CongenitalAdrenalHyperplasia.org] {{Endocrine pathology}} [[Category:Endocrinology]] {{med-sign-stub}} [[es:Insuficiencia adrenal]] [[fr:Insuffisance surrénalienne]] [[he:היפואדרנליזם]]