Adrenal gland - general anatomy and hormones
a. Adrenal medulla -> adrenaline
b. Adrenal cortex
i. Zona glomerulosa (15%) > aldosterone
ii. Zona fasciulata (75%) > cortisol (+ androgens)
iii. Zona reticularis (15%) > androgens
g. ZONA GLOMERULOSA
i. Outer zone 15% cortical width
ii. Controlled by ECF concentration of K+ and AngII
iii. Pregnenolone progesterone 11-deoxycorticosterone aldosterone
h. ZONA FASCICULATA
i. Middle zone 75% cortical width
ii. Controlled by ACTH
iii. Pregnenolone 17-hydroxypregnenolone + 17-hydroxyprotesterone 11-deoxycortisol cortisol
i. ZONA RETICULARIS
i. Inner zone width an integrated structure – 10% cortical width
ii. Controlled by ACTH and other mechanisms
iii. 17-hydroxypregnenolone dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) androgen
iv. Androgen covered in other tissues to testosterone and estrogens
Glucocorticoids - regulation and receptors
a. Regulation
i. SUMMARY: Hypothalamus corticotrophin releasing hormone anterior pituitary adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) adrenal cortex cortisol
iii. Normal diurnal rhythm of cortisol secretion is caused by varying amplitudes of ACTH pulses
1. Highest at waking, low in the late afternoon + evening, lowest while asleep
vi. Inhibition
1. Cortisol (negative feedback)
a. Negative feedback exerted by cortisol on secretion of ACTH, CRH and AVP
b. Receptor
i. ACTH acts on G protein coupled receptor to activate adenylate cyclase and increase levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate; MC2R accessory protein (MRAP) is required for ACTH to stimulate corticosteroid production mutation results in glucocorticoid deficiency
c. ACTH – action
i. Activates enzymes that convert cholesterol to pregnenolone in adrenal cortex– rate limiting step for all adrenocortical hormone production
ii. NOTE: ACTH trophic to zona fascicularis and zona reticularis
Cortisol - effects
i. Metabolic effects
1. Hyperglycaemia
a. Increased hepatic gluconeogenesis
b. Increased resistance to insulin
2. Stimulates glycogen synthetase activity and reduces glycogen breakdown (protects against long term starvation)
3. Enhances lipolysis
4. Catabolic effect on protein metabolism
ii. Haematological
1. Decrease lymphocytes/eosinophils/monocytes
2. Decrease B and T cell function
3. Increase apoptosis
4. Anti-inflammatory
iii. Circulatory and renal effects
1. Positive inotropic effect on the heart
2. Permissive effect on actions of epinephrine and norepinephrine
iv. Endocrine
1. Decrease growth
2. Increase bone resorption
3. Increase adrenal androgens
v. Immunologic
1. Major role in immune regulation
vi. Skin/bone
1. Inhibit fibroblasts bruising and poor wound healing
2. Decreasing serum calcium osteoporosis
vii. CNS = psychosis
viii. CVS = increase CO
Mineralocorticoids - regulation and action
a. Regulation
i. Stimulants
1. AngII (most powerful)
2. ACTH
3. Hyperkalaemia
ii. Inhibition = ANP
iii. Steps
1. Decreased intravascular volume JGA renin
2. Renin cleaves angiotensin (renin substrate; produced by the liver) to produce AngI
3. AngI cleaved by angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in the lungs to produce AngII
4. AngII also cleaved to produce AngIII
5. AngII and AngIII = potent stimulators of aldosterone secretion
b. Action = maintain intravascular volume
i. ↑ expression of epithelial sodium channel in the collecting duct ↑ Na+ re-absorption and K+ excretion ↑ blood volume and BP
ii. Stimulation of ATPase pump ↑ H+ excretion ↑ blood pH
Adrenal androgens - regulation and action
a. Regulation
i. Poorly understood
b. Action
i. Contribute to adrenarche (sexual maturation caused by DHEA and DHEAS occurs at 6-8 years = adrenarche)
ii. Males <2% androgens are adrenal, 50% in females
Adrenal medulla - products/metabolites/actions
Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone system - general
Tests of the HPA (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal) axis - static
a. Cortisol
i. Measured at 0800 in the morning = time of normal peak
ii. Can confirm hypocortisolism
iii. Does NOT distinguish between primary adrenal failure, ACTH deficiency, or enzymatic defect in biosynthesis of cortisol
b. Salivary cortisol
i. Done at midnight = time of normal nadir
ii. Validated as a screen for diagnosis of Cushing’s syndrome in children
iii. NOT well studied for diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency
c. ACTH level
i. In patients with low 0800 cortisol levels the ACTH concentration determines whether it is more likely to be primary or central
ii. Extremely elevated ACTH level in the setting of low morning cortisol level supports diagnosis of primary adrenal failure or resistance to ACTH
d. Mineralocorticoid status
i. Electrolytes = hyponatraemia and hyperkalaemia in deficiency
ii. Elevated plasma renin activity (PRA) or direct renin
e. Adrenal androgens = DHEA, DHEAS
f. Urinary steroids
Tests of the HPA (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal) axis - dynamic
a. ACTH stimulation test
i. Determine response of adrenal cortex to ACTH
ii. Cortisol measured at 60 and 120 minutes following IV infusion of synthetic ACTH
iii. Note that ACTH stimulation test does NOT help to distinguish between primary and central insufficiency – most patients with central adrenal insufficiency have subnormal cortisol response to ACTH stimulation due to chronic lack of ACTH stimulation
b. Test of ACTH secretory ability
i. Useful to confirm central adrenal insufficiency
ii. Main indication is in patients with suspected central adrenal insufficiency (low cortisol and low basal ACTH) but normal results in ACTH stimulation test
iii. Dynamic tests
1. Insulin-induced hypoglycaemia
2. Glucagon-stimulation test
3. Metyrapone test
Adrenocortical insufficiency - classification
Primary = due to inadequate function of adrenal cortex
o Deficiency of glucocorticoids AND mineralocorticoid
Investigations:
i. ↓ cortisol
ii. ↑ ACTH – usually 2x ULN
iii. Fasting hypoglycaemia
iv. Evidence of mineralocorticoid deficiency – hyponatraemia, hyperkalaemia, elevated renin
v. ACTH stimulation test (NOT ALWAYS REQUIRED) – if results of static tests are not definitive, a stimulation test can be done and shows failure to 0800 cortisol level to rise with ACTH stimulation
Differentials
i. Addison’s disease
ii. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
iii. Congenital adrenal hypoplasia
iv. Adrenoleukodystrophy
v. Adrenal haemorrhage in newborns
vi. Infections (Waterhouse Friedrichsen syndrome)
Central = due to deficient ACTH secretion
o Secondary = pituitary defect
o Tertiary = hypothalamic
o Deficiency of glucocorticoids ONLY
Investigations
i. ↓ cortisol
ii. ↓ ACTH
iii. ACTH stimulation test (‘synacthen test’) – increase in cortisol production in response to ACTH
iv. Test of ACTH secretory ability (insulin induced hypoglycaemia, glucagon stimulation, or metyrapone) – poor cortisol response to any of these tests indicates central
1. Normal in primary
2. Low response in secondary
3. Low response in tertiary WITH response to CRH
• Other
o End-organ resistance to adrenocortical hormones (ACH receptor gene mutation)
o Iatrogenic – secondary to exogenous steroids – causes central ACTH suppression
Primary ACTH deficiency - differentials
i. Addison’s disease
ii. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
iii. Congenital adrenal hypoplasia
iv. Adrenoleukodystrophy
v. Adrenal haemorrhage in newborns
vi. Infections (Waterhouse Friedrichsen syndrome)
Adrenal crisis / acute adrenal insufficiency - background
Adrenal crisis / acute adrenal insufficiency - manifestations, investigations
a. Investigations to be done in all cases of possible adrenal insufficiency / crisis:
i. Immediate blood glucose using a bedside glucometer
ii. Serum glucose, urea, sodium and potassium
iii. Arterial or capillary acid base
iv. Cortisol + 17 hydroxyprogesterone levels
1. NOTE: if unwell cortisol should be 600-1000+ therefore ‘normal’ cortisol may be
v. Renin and ACTH levels
vi. Urinary steroid profile and urinary sodium level
Adrenal crisis / acute adrenal insufficiency - treatment, prevention
Primary adrenal insufficiency - specific features
Hyperpigmentation High ACTH Features of mineralocorticoid deficiency i. Hyponatreamia ii. Hyperkalaemia iii. High plasma renin Salt craving High plasma renin
Primary adrenal insufficiency - aetiology
a. Inherited
i. Inborn errors of steroidogenesis
ii. CAH
iii. SF-1 deficiency
iv. Disorders of LCFA metabolism- adrenoleukodystrophy/ Adrenomyeloneuropathy
v. Congenital adrenal hypoplasia
vi. Type 1 APS and type 2 APS (autoimmune polyglandular syndrome)
b. Acquired
i. Autoimmune – Addison’s
ii. Adrenal haemorrhage
iii. Infection
iv. Drugs
Primary adrenal insufficiency - manifestations, investigations
Primary adrenal insufficiency - treatment
NOT ADRENAL CRISIS
b. Long-term
i. Chronic replacement of cortisol and aldosterone
i. Hydrocortisone - 10-12mg/m2/day in 3 divided doses
1. ACTH levels may be used to monitor adequacy in primary adrenal insufficiency
a. Morning ACTH levels 3-4x the normal range are usually satisfactory
2. In CAH – levels of precursor hormones are used instead
3. Excess – weight gain, height velocity, Cushing features
4. Insufficiency – increased hyperpigmentation, hypoglycaemia, failure to thrive, raised ACTH
ii. Fludrocortisone – 50-150 mcg/day
1. Plasma renin can be used to monitor
2. Excess – hypertension, suppressed renin
3. Insufficiency – salt craving, poor weight gain, hyponatraemia, hyperkalaemia, hypotension, raised renin
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia - aetiology
21-Hydroxylase deficiency (95%)
- CYP21A2 mutations
11β-Hydroxylase deficiency (5%)
- CYP11B1 mutations
Other/Rarer: 3β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 deficiency 17α-Hydroxylase deficiency P450 oxidoreductase deficiency P450 side-chain cleavage deficiency Congenital lipoid adrenal hyperplasia
Most common cause of adrenocortical insufficiency in infancy
Salt losing forms of congenital adrenal hyperplasia
Proportion of infants which develop salt losing symptoms (unable to synthesize cortisol OR aldosterone)
i. 21-hydroylase deficiency – 75%
ii. Lipoid adrenal hyperplasia – almost all
iii. 3beta-hydroxysteorid dehydrogenase – most
ADRENAL HYPOPLASIA CONGENITA (AHC) - general
a. Genetics = DAX1 mutation (located Xp21)
i. NOTE: Non-X linked = IMAGe (IUGR, skeletal abnormalities, adrenal insufficiency, genital abnormalities)
b. Pathogenesis
i. Failure of development of the definitive zone of the adrenal cortex – fetal zone may be relatively normal
ii. Adrenal insufficiency usually manifests with the fetal zone involute postnatally
c. Clinical manifestations
i. Acute primary adrenal insufficiency in the first (or second) month of life (less common)
ii. Primary adrenal insufficiency in 1st 2 years of life (most common), occasionally later in childhood or adulthood
iii. Aldosterone insufficiency may manifest prior to cortisol deficiency
iv. Males = cryptorchidism, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism
d. Contiguous gene syndrome = AHC + other syndromes
i. Developmental delay and seizures, strabismus
ii. Glycerol kinase deficiency Metabolic acidosis, hypoglycemia
iii. Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Adrenoleukodystrophy - general
a. Genetics
i. Most common form is X-linked – affects male
ii. 95% of patients have a mutation in ABCD1 gene
iii. Gene encodes a transmembrane transporter involved in the importation of very-long-chain fatty acids into peroxisomes accumulation off LCFA in adrenal cortex and brain
b. Males – 3 phenotypes
i. Childhood cerebral form = manifests between ages four and eight years
1. It initially resembles attention deficit disorder or hyperactivity
2. Progressive impairment of cognition, behavior, vision, hearing, and motor function follow the initial symptoms and often lead to total disability within two years.
ii. Adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN) = manifests in the late twenties as progressive paraparesis, sphincter disturbances, sexual dysfunction, and often, impaired adrenocortical function
1. All symptoms are progressive over decades
iii. “Addison disease only” = presents with primary adrenocortical insufficiency between age two years and adulthood and most commonly by age 7.5 years, without evidence of neurologic abnormality; however, some degree of neurologic disability (most commonly AMN) usually develops later
c. Females = approximately 20% of females who are carriers develop neurologic manifestations that resemble AMN but have later onset (age ≥35 years) and milder disease than do affected males
d. Investigations
i. VLCFA in plasma = elevated
ii. MRI = always abnormal in boys with cerebral disease
iii. Morning cortisol and ACTH +/- Synacthen test
iv. ABCD1 gene testing
e. Treatment = BMT – only if early neurological involvement
Familial glucocorticoid deficiency - general
a. Chronic adrenal insufficiency characterised by
i. Isolated deficiency of glucocorticoids
ii. Elevated levels of ACTH
iii. Normally levels of aldosterone production – although salt-losing manifestations are present in most other forms of adrenal insufficiency occasionally occur
b. Clinical presentation
i. Hypoglycaemia
ii. Seizures
iii. Increased pigmentation
c. Genetics
i. Affects both sexes equally
ii. Inherited in autosomal recessive manner
iii. Different genes implicated
1. MRC2 – ACTH receptor
2. MRAP – protein required for signaling
Drugs causing adrenal insufficiency
a. Ketoconazole = inhibits adrenal insufficiency
Inhibition of mitochondrial cytochrome P450 enzymes (e.g., CYP11A1, CYP11B1)
b. Mitotane
c. Etomidate = general anaesthesia