Adrenal Insuffiency

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Adrenal gland

on top of both kidneys

regular healing and salt control in body

Secretion balanced by pitutary secretion of ACTH - same way as TSH controls Thyroid secretion

Adrenal insuffiency = insufficient cortisone production by adrenal glands

Epidemiology

Occurance - Primary - 5 / 10,000 ; Secondary 2%

Any Age

Equal Gender distribition

Primary

Gland destructed by infection, hemorrhage, or some other disease

Earlier TB, now autoimmune descrution most common

Like in primary thyroid dysfunction - increased TSH, reduced FT4

in primary adrenal insuff - increased ACTH, reduced cortisol [pitutary tries to balance production by increasing secretion of ACTH]

Increased ACTH asscoiated with specific symptoms not seen in secondary form

Secondary

Stopage of iatrogenic use for various use

Pitutary destruction by tumor or stroke

Physical symptoms

Weakness at first periodic during persiods of stress and later chronic

Fatigue proportio