Addison Disease Also called: Adrenal insufficiency, Adrenocortical hypofunction, Hypocortisolism Summary Your adrenal glands are just above your kidneys. The outside layer of these glands makes hormones that help your body respond to stress and regulate your blood pressure and water and salt balance. Addison disease happens if the adrenal glands don’t make enough of these hormones. A problem with your immune system usually causes Addison disease. The immune system mistakenly attacks your own tissues, damaging your adrenal glands. Other causes include infections and cancer. Symptoms include Weight loss Muscle weakness Fatigue that gets worse over time Low blood pressure Patchy or dark skin Lab tests can confirm that you have Addison disease. If you don’t treat it, it can be fatal. You will need to take hormone pills for the rest of your life. If you have Addison disease, you should carry an emergency ID. It should say that you have the disease, list your medicines and say how much you need in an emergency. NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Encyclopedia 17-hydroxycorticosteroids 24-hour urinary aldosterone excretion rate Cortisol – urine Diagnosis and Tests ACTH (Adrenocorticotropic Hormone) Test American Association for Clinical Chemistry Aldosterone and Renin Test American Association for Clinical Chemistry Cortisol Test American Association for Clinical Chemistry Array ACTH (cosyntropin) stimulation test ACTH blood test Acute adrenal crisis Addison’s disease Cortisol level Start Here Addison’s Disease Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Addison’s Disease American Academy of Family Physicians Adrenal Insufficiency Hormone Health Network Adrenal Insufficiency (Addison’s Disease) UpToDate Adrenal Insufficiency and Addison’s Disease National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Addison’s Disease National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Adrenal Insufficiency National Institutes of Health Genetics Genetics Home Reference: autoimmune Addison disease National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: autoimmune polyglandular syndrome, type 1 National Library of Medicine Find an Expert Hormone Health Network Hormone Health Network National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Living With Managing Adrenal Insufficiency National Institutes of Health, Clinical Center Journal Articles Addison Disease
