Adrenocortical Insufficiency (adrenocortical + insufficiency)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Kinds of Adrenocortical Insufficiency

  • primary adrenocortical insufficiency


  • Selected Abstracts


    The Treatment of Acute Adrenocortical Insufficiency in the Dog

    JOURNAL OF VETERINARY EMERGENCY AND CRITICAL CARE, Issue 1 2001
    DACVECC, DACVIM, Michael Schaer DVM
    Summary Acute hypoadrenocorticism in the dog is a true medical emergency that requires a prompt and accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment in order to provide for the most optimal outcome. Because the signs of adrenal insufficiency mimic those caused by other more common clinical conditions such as renal failure, intoxications, and various gastrointestinal disorders, it behooves the emergency clinician to always include this condition in the list of differential diagnoses. This paper will review the main elements of this hypoendocrinopathy in order to provide the emergency clinician with the essentials that will be required for appropriate diagnosis and treatment. J Vet emerg Crit Care 2001; 11(1):7,14 [source]


    Adrenal Insufficiency in Critically Ill Emergency Department Patients: A Taiwan Preliminary Study

    ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 7 2001
    Shy-Shin Chang MD
    Objective: Unrecognized adrenal insufficiency can have serious consequences in critically ill emergency department (ED) patients. This prospective pilot study of adrenal function in patients with severe illness was undertaken to determine the prevalence of adrenal dysfunction and any relation to prior herbal drug use. Methods: In a high-volume urban tertiary care ED, adult patients with sepsis or acute myocardial infarction (AMI) were eligible for the study. Over a two-month period, a convenience sample was enrolled by the authors on arrival to the ED. Inclusion criteria were systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria plus evidence of at least one organ dysfunction or cardiac marker plus electrocardiogram-proven AMI. Exclusion criteria included known corticosteroid use. Serum cortisol was measured on arrival and for those patients with a level of <15 ,g/dL (<414 nmol/L), an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test was performed. Results: Of the 30 enrolled patients, 23 (77%) were suffering from severe sepsis and the other seven (23%) had an AMI. Thirteen of the 30 patients (43%; 95% CI = 25% to 65%) had serum cortisol levels of <15 ,g/dL, consistent with adrenal insufficiency, nine with severe sepsis and four with an AMI. Eight (62%; 95% CI = 32% to 86%) of the 13 patients with low cortisol levels reported using herbal medications, while only two (12%; 95% CI = 1% to 36%) of the 17 with normal cortisol levels reported taking herb drugs (p = 0.01). Only two (15%; 95% CI = 2% to 45%) of the patients with low cortisol levels failed their corticotropin stimulation test, suggestive of true adrenocortical insufficiency. Both reported using herbal preparations. Conclusions: These results indicate that adrenal dysfunction is common among a group of critically ill patients seen in this Taiwanese ED. Moreover, the use of herbal drugs was high in the patients with low serum cortisols. Further studies are required to both confirm these findings and clarify whether a number of herbal medications contain corticosteroids. [source]


    Hypoadrenocorticism in a cat

    JOURNAL OF SMALL ANIMAL PRACTICE, Issue 4 2001
    J. Stonehewer
    Primary hypoadrenocorticism was diagnosed in an eight-year-old neutered male cat. The predominant presenting complaint was dysphagia. Other historical signs included lethargy, weight loss, polydipsia, polyuria, muscle weakness and occasional vomiting. The signs had waxed and waned over the two months before presentation and had improved when the cat was treated with enrofloxacin and prednisolone by the referring veterinarian. On referral, dehydration, depression and poor bodily condition were found on physical examination. Results of initial laboratory tests revealed mild anaemia, hyperkalaemia, hyponatraemia, hypochloraemia and elevations in serum creatinine and creatine kinase. The diagnosis of primary adrenocortical insufficiency was established on the basis of results of an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test and endogenous plasma ACTH determination. Initial therapy for hypoadrenocorticism included intravenous administration of 0,9 per cent saline and dexamethasone, and oral fludrocortisone acetate. Within one week the cat was clinically normal and two years later was still alive and well on fludrocortisone acetate treatment only. [source]


    Increased death risk and altered cancer incidence pattern in patients with isolated or combined autoimmune primary adrenocortical insufficiency

    CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 5 2008
    Sophie Bensing
    Summary Objectives, Primary adrenocortical insufficiency is mostly caused by an autoimmune destruction of the adrenal cortex. The disease may appear isolated or as a part of an autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome (APS). APS1 is a rare hereditary disorder with a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations. In APS2, primary adrenocortical insufficiency is often combined with autoimmune thyroid disease and/or type 1 diabetes. We analysed mortality and cancer incidence in primary adrenocortical insufficiency patients during 40 years. Data were compared with the general Swedish population. Design and patients, A population based cohort study including all patients with autoimmune primary adrenocortical insufficiency (3299) admitted to Swedish hospitals 1964,2004. Measurements, Mortality risk was calculated as the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) and cancer incidence as the standardized incidence ratio (SIR). Results, A more than 2-fold increased mortality risk was observed in both women (SMR 2·9, 95% CI 2·7,3·0) and men (SMR 2·5, 95% CI 2·3,2·7). Highest risks were observed in patients diagnosed in childhood. SMR was higher in APS1 patients (SMR 4·6, 95% CI 3·5,6·0) compared with patients with APS2 (SMR 2·1, 95% CI 1·9,2·4). Cancer incidence was increased (SIR 1·3, 95% CI 1·2,1·5). When tumours observed during the first year of follow-up were excluded, only the cancer risk among APS1 patients remained increased. Cause-specific cancer incidence analysis revealed significantly higher incidences of oral cancer, nonmelanoma skin cancer, and male genital system cancer among patients. Breast cancer incidence was lower than in the general population. Conclusions, Our study shows a reduced life expectancy and altered cancer incidence pattern in patients with autoimmune primary adrenocortical insufficiency. [source]