ADDISON’S DISEASE

<p>ADDISON’S DISEASE</p><p>Addison’s disease represents an insufficiency or dysfunction of the cortex of the adrenal glands, which fails to release adequate amounts of hormones to meet the physiological needs of the body, despite release of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) from the pituitary gland.</p><p>ACTH secretion are increased while secretion of aldosterone,androgen,cortisol reduced.It is more common in female. The adrenal glands are situated on top of the kidneys. Their cortex produces severalsteroid hormones, of which the glucocorticoid cortisol, the mineralocorticoid aldosterone and the sexual hormone dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) are important.</p><p>CAUSES:</p><p>Addison’s disease is caused by the damage of the adrenal cortex. The damage of cortex can lead to less production of its hormone. There are common following causes of Addison’s disease including-</p><p>Tumors</p><p>Infections such as HIV, tuberculosis and fungal infection</p><p>Autoimmune disease</p><p>Hemorrhage, blood loss</p><p>anticoagulants</p><p>Addison’s disease Symptoms<br>-</p><p>Extreme weakness</p><p>Nausea and vomiting</p><p>Slow, sluggish movement</p><p>Chronic diarrhea</p><p>Paleness</p><p>Fatigue</p><p>Loss of appetite</p><p>Unnaturally dark color of some part of the body</p><p>Changes in blood pressure or heart rate</p><p>Darkening of skin or patchy skin color</p><p>Unintentional weight loss</p><p>Salt craving</p><p>RISK FACTORS THAT CAN CAUSE AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE THAT FURTHER CAN LEAD TO ADDISON’S DISEASE-</p><p>Type 1 diabetes</p><p>Graves’ disease</p><p>Hypopituitarism</p><p>Myasthenia</p><p>Pemicious anemia</p><p>Dermatis herpetiformis</p><p>Testicular dysfunction</p><p>Vitiligo</p><p>Hypoparathyroidism</p><p>DIAGNOSIS:</p><p>Blood test.</p><p>ACTH stimulation test.</p><p>Insulin-induced hypoglycemia test.</p><p>Imaging tests..</p><p>COMPLICATION</p><p>Psychosis.</p><p>Adrenal crisis.</p>