Endocrinology >>>> Addison disease - what is it?

Addison disease - what is it?

In the adrenal cortex, pathological destructive processes can develop, which lead to adrenocortical insufficiency (reduced production of cortisol, and with it adrenaline), called Addison disease.

The causes of Addison disease are reduced to violations of the hormonal function of the adrenal glands as a result of either autoimmune processes, or the destructive effect on adrenal tissue of polycystic disease, tumors, injuries, side effects of drugs. Addison disease is not a common occurrence, but it is quite real in conditions conducive to its development.

Signs of Addison disease:

lowering blood pressure,
low body temperature and against this background, febrile syndrome - characteristic of the adrenal crisis,
hyperpigmentation of the skin (especially in the area of folds, tension, for example, on the articular and bony protrusions),
staining of the mucous membranes, the red border of the lips in bluish and brown-black tones,
general weakness,
nausea,
upset stool (diarrhea),
development of asthenic syndrome is possible.

Diagnosis of Addison disease requires attention, since the disease is similar in external symptoms to many diseases, including hyperpigmentation, vitiligo , poisoning with heavy metal salts, neurosis, hemochromatosis .

Diagnostics is carried out by analyzing the quantitative indicators of adrenal hormones in the blood plasma: plasma ACTH (ACTH - adrenocorticotropic hormone), the level of cortisol in the blood, according to the violation of the general condition of the patient, characteristic of adrenal insufficiency, by X-ray and ultrasound examination of the adrenal glands.

Treatment of Addison disease is accompanied by taking the drug Hydrocortisone according to the scheme for the production of a natural hormone, which is produced maximally in the morning, and minimally in the evening and at night. To do this, the prescribed dose of the drug is taken in full in the morning and half the dose at lunch and in the evening.