Addison's disease is a type of adrenal gland insufficiency, which is a disorder characterized by the inability of the adrenal glands to produce adequate amounts of hormones. In those with Addison's disease, the adrenal glands don't produce sufficient amounts of the hormones cortisol and aldosterone. The cause of the adrenal glands' inadequacy is physical damage that's usually caused by an autoimmune disorder. In rare cases, Addison's disease may be a result of an infection or tumor on the adrenal glands.
Adrenal Glands
The adrenal glands are small organs that are located on the top of each kidney. The glands are made up of two sections: the medulla, which is the inner layer, and the cortex, the outer layer. The medulla is responsible for producing adrenaline hormones. The cortex is responsible for producing the hormones called corticosteroids, which include cortisol, adolesterone and the sex hormones, testosterone and estrogen. Cortisol helps the body respond to stress; aldosterone maintains sodium and potassium balance in the body. Addison's disease occurs when the body can't produce enough cortisol and aldosterone. This occurs as a result of damage to the cortex of the adrenal glands. The damage is caused by an autoimmune disorder in 80 percent of cases of Addison's disease, according to the National Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases Information Service.
Autoimmune Disease
Normally, the body's immune system protects the body from the development of diseases by fighting off foreign substances and germs. When a foreign substance invades the body, the body invokes an immune response. During an immune response, the body produces antibodies, which are substances that attack and kill the invading substance and prevent bodily harm. In an autoimmune disease, the body misinterprets a normal body structure or process as a threat to health. The immune system sends out antibodies that attack healthy cells or organs in the body and harm an otherwise healthy system. In Addison's disease, antibodies attack the adrenal glands, which results in physical damage. The adrenal glands can't function properly when damaged.
Symptoms
Symptoms of Addison's disease usually develop slowly over several months, according to the Mayo Clinic. Common symptoms include muscle weakness, fatigue, weight loss, darkening of the skin, low blood pressure, salt cravings, nausea, joint pain, irritability, lesions in the mouth, headaches and sweating. An Addisonian crisis, also called an acute adrenal insufficiency, is when sudden, severe symptoms develop. Symptoms of an Addisonian crisis include sudden pain in the lower back, abdomen and legs, severe vomiting and diarrhea, low blood pressure, fainting and hyperkalemia, which is high blood potassium.
Diagnosis
A diagnosis of Addison's disease usually isn't made until the disease has been present for a significant amount of time, because it usually can't be detected in the early stages. In order to detect Addison's disease, you may take blood tests. High levels of sodium and potassium and low levels of cortisol indicate Addison's disease, according to the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. CT scans may also be used to look for physical abnormalities in the adrenal glands
Treatment
Treatment for Addison's disease consists of lifetime hormone replacement therapy. Hormone replacement therapy usually includes a combination of the corticosteroids glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids. An Addisonian crisis requires an emergency injection of hydrocortisone. Blood pressure medications may also be needed.
