Characteristics of Addison's Disease
References
What is Addison's Disease?
- Fatigue
- Weight/Appetite loss
- Low blood pressure & Orthostatic hypotension
- Hypoglycemia
- Abdominal pain/N&V
- Headache
- Kirkland, L. (2014, March 1). Adrenal Crisis Treatment & Management. Retrieved November 20, 2015, from http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/116716-treatment
- National Institutes of Health. (2014, May 1). Adrenal Insufficiency and Addison's Disease. Retrieved November 20, 2015, from http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-topics/endocrine/adrenal-insufficiency-addisons-disease/Pages/fact-sheet.aspx
- Primary adrenal insufficiency
- Insufficient amount of the glucocorticoid, cortisol
- 80% of cases are caused by an autoimmune reaction, in which the adrenal cortex is damaged (NIH, 2014)
What is Adrenal Insufficiency?
How is an Addisonian Crisis Treated?
- Administer emergency hydrocortisone injection (Kirkland, 2014)
- IV fluid replacement
- Assess precipitating crisis cause
- Assess/monitor blood glucose levels
- Administer pressors or vasoactives as ordered for low blood pressure
- When the body does not produce enough adrenal hormones
- Primary insufficiency occurs when the adrenal glands are damaged, impairing hormone function
- Secondary insufficiency occurs when the pituitary gland is impaired, indirectly affecting adrenal gland functioning
What is an Addisonian Crisis?
- Sudden worsening of symptoms
- Life-threatening (911) emergency
- Signs & Symptoms include:
- Dehydration
- Severe N&V
- Low BP
- Loss of consciousness
- Severe lower back/abdominal pain
(Kirkland, 2014)
Adrenal Insufficiency & Crisis