scholarly journals Addison’s Disease Presenting with Cerebral Edema

Author(s):  
Caroline Geenen ◽  
Ingrid Tein ◽  
Robert M. Ehrlich

ABSTRACT:Background: Increased intracranial pressure with encephalopathy has rarely been reported in Addison’s disease. Method: Case Study. Results: A 16-year-old female who presented with cerebral edema of unknown etiology was eventually diagnosed as having Addison’s disease. She had early morning headaches, fatiguability, diarrhea and deterioration in school performance. She was hyponatremic with a serum sodium of 128 mmol/L and hyperkalemic with a serum potassium of 5.9 mmol/L. She had a low serum osmolality (264 mosm), high urine osmolality (533 mosm) and high urine sodium (87 mosm). She had a postural drop in blood pressure and diffuse hyperpigmentation. An ACTH stimulation test revealed a low baseline Cortisol and no response to ACTH. Plasma renin activity was increased. Serum ACTH was elevated. She responded well to intravenous fluids and solu-cortef and was discharged on hydrocortisone and florinef. She remains well 18 months after the acute episode with no neurologic complaints or findings. Conclusion: Addison’s Disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis of symptomatic cerebral edema and idiopathic intracranial hypertension.

2018 ◽  
Vol 56 (6) ◽  
pp. 896-900 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacopo Manso ◽  
Raffaele Pezzani ◽  
Riccardo Scarpa ◽  
Nicoletta Gallo ◽  
Corrado Betterle

Abstract Autoimmune Addison’s disease (AAD) is the most frequent cause of adrenocortical insufficiency. The natural history of AAD usually comprises five consecutive stages with the first stage characterized by the increase of plasma renin consistent with the impairment of pars glomerulosa, which is usually the first affected layer of the adrenal cortex. We describe a 19-year-old female with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) who underwent an autoantibody screening due to having the personal and family history of other autoimmune diseases in the absence of relevant clinical manifestations. She was positive for adrenal cortex autoantibodies (ACA) and steroid 21-hydroxylase autoantibodies (21-OH Ab) at high titers. She had increased basal levels of ACTH with normal basal cortisol not responding to ACTH stimulation, reduced levels of dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate but normal levels of orthostatic renin and aldosterone. This scenario was consistent with a subclinical AAD presenting with first impairments in pars fasciculata and reticularis and conserved pars glomerulosa function. Only subsequently, progressive deficiency in pars glomerulosa function has become evident. Review of the literature showed that there was only one case, reported to date, with a similar atypical natural history of AAD. The strategies for screening for ACA/21-OH Ab in patients with HT are discussed.


1996 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Sadek ◽  
M Schaer

Fourteen dogs diagnosed with Addison's disease and having atypical serum electrolyte levels are described. Seventy-eight percent were female, and most showed signs of inappetence, weakness, or vomiting. Ninety-three percent of the cases had either hyponatremia without hyperkalemia or normal serum electrolyte concentrations. Hemogram features were variable and were not useful in suggesting a diagnosis of hypoadrenocorticism. The results of this study show that normal or mild serum electrolyte changes in a dog with clinical signs compatible with Addison's disease should not exclude this diagnosis from consideration. Definitive diagnosis depends on the demonstration of inadequate adrenocortical response to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation.


2013 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn M. McGonigle ◽  
John F. Randolph ◽  
Sharon A. Center ◽  
Richard E. Goldstein

A dog with an unexpected presentation of primary hypoadrenocorticism was evaluated for clinical signs and electrolyte abnormalities characteristic of Addison’s disease. Although the initial adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test documented serum cortisol concentrations within the reference range, subsequent assessments confirmed hypoaldosteronism. Mineralocorticoid replacement promptly normalized electrolytes and transiently improved clinical illness. Six weeks after initial ACTH stimulation testing, the dog became glucocorticoid deficient. Concurrent primary hypothyroidism was also documented. Hypoaldosteronism preceding hypocortisolemia is a unique presentation of canine Addison’s disease.


1981 ◽  
Vol 61 (s7) ◽  
pp. 269s-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith A. Whitworth ◽  
Dianne Saines ◽  
Robyn Thatcher ◽  
Aldona Butkus ◽  
B. A. Scoggins ◽  
...  

1. The blood pressure, renal and metabolic effects of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) have been studied in six normotensive subjects and two patients with Addison's disease on maintenance steroid therapy. 2. In normotensive subjects, 5 days ACTH treatment (0.5 mg 12 hourly) was associated with a rise in systolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure. There was a small rise in diastolic pressure but no consistent change in heart rate. Plasma sodium increased and plasma potassium fell. Serum creatinine and urea concentrations were unchanged. Fluid intake increased and urine output was unchanged but ACTH withdrawal was associated with a diuresis. There was an initial reduction in urinary sodium excretion and a natriuresis after ACTH withdrawal. Plasma volume and body weight rose. 3. ACTH produced increases in plasma cortisol, 11-deoxycortisol, corticosterone, deoxycorticosterone, aldosterone, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone and 17α,20α-dihydroxyprogesterone. Plasma renin concentration fell. 4. Patients with Addison's disease showed no change in blood pressure or in any other metabolic variable studied. 5. The effects of ACTH in man resembled those found in sheep.


1988 ◽  
Vol 117 (3) ◽  
pp. 467-475 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Betterle ◽  
C. Scalici ◽  
F. Presotto ◽  
B. Pedini ◽  
L. Moro ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Adrenal autoantibodies (AA) were found in 23 of 2571 (0·9%) patients with organ-specific autoimmune diseases, in one of 632 first-degree relatives of insulin-dependent diabetic patients, and in none of 375 normal controls. In AA-positive subjects the prevalence of human leucocyte antigens (HLA)-A1, -B8 and -DR3 was significantly higher with respect to the general population. Two groups were followed (15 subjects persistently positive for AA and 51 negative subjects) for a mean period of 3·2 years. Yearly tests were made for AA and adrenal function. Of the 15 subjects persistently positive for AA, six developed Addison's disease after a period varying from 6 months to 10 years. Of the 51 subjects initially negative, two became positive during follow-up, and one of these developed Addison's disease 16 months later. In contrast, all the remaining 49 persistently negative subjects maintained normal adrenal function tests. Overall, of the 17 positive subjects, seven (41%) developed Addison's disease, three (18%) showed various degrees of subclinical adrenocortical failure and the remaining seven maintained normal glandular function. In the positive patients the yearly incidence of detriment in adrenal function was 19%. Patients who developed Addison's disease showed significant association with HLA-B8 phenotype. The development from normal adrenocortical function to overt Addison's disease seemed to progress through four distinct stages of functional impairment: increased plasma renin activity with normal/low aldosterone (stage 1), low cortisol response after i.v. administration of ACTH (stage 2), increased ACTH (stage 3), and low basal cortisol (stage 4). Thus, idiopathic Addison's disease appears to be a chronic autoimmune disorder with a genetic predisposition and a long preclinical period marked by the presence of AA. Steroid-producing cell antibodies were also evaluated but they were not found to be markers of gonadal dysfunction. J. Endocr. (1988) 117, 467–475


2003 ◽  
Vol 148 (4) ◽  
pp. 449-456 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Lovas ◽  
ES Husebye ◽  
F Holsten ◽  
B Bjorvatn

OBJECTIVE: The standard replacement therapy in Addison's disease does not restore normal nocturnal levels of the hormones of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. The aim of the study was to describe the prevalence and characteristics of sleep disturbances in patients with Addison's disease. METHODS: Sixty patients completed a self-administered sleep questionnaire and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) questionnaire. Activity-based monitoring (actigraph recordings) and sleep diaries were obtained from eight patients. RESULTS: Thirty-four percent reported weekly sleep disturbances (difficulties falling asleep in 13%; repeated awakenings in 14%; early morning awakenings in 20%). The sleep need was 8.21 h (s.d. 1.34; range 6-14 h), and sleep onset latency was 29 min (s.d. 29, range 2-150 min). Forty percent of the patients were tired during daily activities more than once a week, but the scores of the ESS were 6.0 (s.d. 3.5), which is not higher than normal. The actigraph recordings showed higher sleep efficiency than the subjective recordings. CONCLUSION: We did not identify specific sleep disturbances which were characteristic for patients with Addison's disease. Patients with Addison's disease have increased daytime fatigue, but no more daytime sleepiness than normal.


2013 ◽  
pp. 30-33
Author(s):  
Elisabetta Antonucci ◽  
Matteo Conte ◽  
Michele Di Pumpo ◽  
Giuseppe Antonucci

CLINICAL CASE A 70-year old woman was admitted to our hospital because of fever, asthenia and a suspected stroke. Her medical history showed a congenital cardiopathy (Patent Foramen Ovale, PFO). Skin and oral mucosa pigmentation, orthostatic hypotension, hypoglycemia and hyponatriemia arose the suspect of Addison’s disease. The diagnosis was confirmed by the evaluation of basal levels of plasma ACTH and serum cortisol, and serum cortisol levels after ACTH stimulation. Abdominal CT scan showed atrophy and calcification of adrenal glands. CONCLUSIONS In most cases, Addison’s disease is provoked by autoimmune destruction of the adrenal cortex; however, in our reported patient, tuberculosis could be a possible cause.


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