What is addisons disease/hypoadrenalism and what happens?
Autoimmune destruction of adrenal glands
Reduced cortisol and aldosterone
Features of addisons disease?
Lethargy, anorexia, weakness, nausea and vomiting, weight loss, salt cravings
Hyperpigmentation especially in palmar creases, vitiligo, loss of pubic hair in women, hypotension, hypoglycaemia
Electrolyte imbalances - addisons disease?
Hyponatraemia and hyperkalaemia and hypoglvyaemia
Other causes of Primary adrenal insufficiency?
TB, metasteses, mengiococcal septicaemia, HIV, antiphospholipid syndrome
What causes Secondary hypoadrenalism ?
Loss or damage to the pituitary gland
Due to congenital underdevelopment ( hypoplasia), surgery, infection, loss of blood flow or radiotherapy
Hyperpigmentation in adrenal insufficiency- what does it suggest?
That theres a primary cause
Investigations for addisons?
ACTH stimulation test (short synacthen test)
What is the ACTH stimulation test?
Plasma cortisol before and 30 minutes and 60 minutes after giving synathen 250 IM
Synathen is a synthetic ACTH - cortisol level should at least double in response to synathen
If it doesn’t = indicates Addisons
What is secondary adrenal insufficiency?
Inadequate ACTH stimulating teh adrenal glands, resulting in low levels of cortisol being released
What is tertiary adrenal insufficiency?
Result of inadequate CRH release by the hypothalamus
Describe path of cortisol/aldosterone
CRH from hypothalamus to anterior pituatary
ACTH from anterior pituatary to adrenal gland
Cortisol release from adrenal glands
What causes tertiary adrenal insufficiency?
Usually result of long term oral steroids( more than 3 weeks) = suppression of the hypothalamus
What happens when steroids are suddenly stopped- effect on hypothalamus?
Hypothalamus does not “wake up” fast enough and endogenous steroids are not adequately produced. Therefore, long term steroids should be tapered slowly to allow time for the adrenal axis to regain normal function.
Features of adrenal insufficiency - babies
Lethargy, vomiting, poor feeding, hypoglycaemia, jaundice and failure to thrive
investigations for adrenal insufficiency?
U&E’s, blood glucose
Check diagnosis with cortisol, ACTH, aldosterone and renin levels
Short synathen test for Addison
What does cortisol, ACTH, aldosterone and renin look like in primary adrenal failure ?
Low cortisol
High ACTH - trying to increase levels
Low aldosterone - adrenal glands damaged
High renin - result of low aldosterone
Management of Adrenal insufficiency?
Combination of hydrocortisone( glucocorticoid to replace cortisol) and fludrocortisone ( mineralocorticoid to replace aldosterone if its also in sufficient)
2-3 divided doses a day
Patient education - steroids
Importance of not missing doses, medic alert bracelet and steroid card
Hydrocortisone injections for an adrenal crisis
What is an addisonian crisis?
Acute presentation of severe Addisons
Symptoms of addisons?
Hypotension
Hypoglycaemia, hyponatraemia and hyperkalaemia
Adrenal crisis can be the first presentation of Addison’s disease or triggered by infection, trauma or other acute illness in someone with established Addison’s.
Management of addisonian crisis?
Hydrocortisone 100mg IM or IV
1 litre normal saline +/- dextrose if hypoglycaemic
Continue hydrocortisone until patient is stable
What is hyperaldosteronism?
HIGH levels of aldosterone
HTN IS KEY FACTOR
WHAT IS RENIN? Whats it produced by?
ENZYME produced by the juxtaglomerular cells in the afferent arterioles in the kidney
Sense the blood pressure in the vessels
Secrete more renin in response to low BP and less in response to high BP
What does renin do? What is the knock on effect
Converts angiotensinogen into angiotensin I
Angiotensin I converts to angiotensin II in the lungs using ACE and Angiotensin II stimulates the release of aldosterone from the adrenal glands