1. Adrenal Insufficiency
23/02/07
Naree Panamonta, MD.

2. Adrenal steroids and Pathways
Cholesterol
Dehydroepi
androsterone
Pregnenolone
17-hydroxypregnenolone
Progesterone
17-hydroxyprogesterone
Androstenedione
21-hydroxylase
Aldosterone
Cortisol
21-hydroxylase
Mineralocorticoid
Glucocorticoid
Androgens
Glomerulosa
Fasciculata
Reticularis

3. Physiologic actions of adrenal steroids
Steroid Effect
Cortisol BP control
- Glucose control
- Stress response
- Lymphocyte inhibition
- Movement of neutrophils from vascular wall to bloodstream
- Thymus regression
- Osteoclast stimulation
Aldosterone Salt retention
- K excretion
- Acid secretion
DHEA/ Muscle maintenance
Androstenedione Bone anabolism
- Mental drive
- Sexual function

4. Causes
Primary adrenal insufficiency
Secondary adrenal insufficiency

5. Primary adrenal insufficiency
Causes
Anatomic destruction of gland
Metabolic failure in hormone production
ACTH-blocking antibodies
Mutation in ACTH receptor gene
Adrenal hypoplasia congenita

6. Secondary adrenal insufficiency
Hypopituitarism due to hypothalamic-pituitary disease
Suppression of H-P axis
- By exogenous steroid
- By endogenous steroid from tumor

7. Primary adrenal insufficiency
(Addison’s disease)
- Involve > 90% of the glands

8. Pathophysiology Gradual adrenocortical destruction
- Initial phase: Decreased adrenal reserve
Basal steroid secretion- Normal
Not increase in stress response
- Further loss of cortical tissue
Impair basal secretion of glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid
Plasma ACTH elevation- Earliest and most sensitive indication

9. Anatomic destruction of gland
1. Idiopathic atrophy: Autoimmune, adrenoleukodystrophy
2. Surgical removal
3. Infection: TB, Fungus, Virus esp. in AIDS
4. Hemorrhage
5. Invasion: Metastasis eg. CA thyroid, breast, kidney, lymphoma

10. Idiopathic atrophy Most common cause 70-80%
Autoantibody: adrenal cortex Ab, 21-hydroxylase Ab
Isolated or associated with polyglandular autoimmune syndrome
PGA syndrome 2 types
1).PGA type1- more common
2).PGA type2

11. PGA syndrome
PGA type1 (Autoimmune Polyendocrinopathy- Candidiasis-Ectodermal Dysplasia)
- Autosomal recessive (no HLA association)
- Childhood onset
- 2/3 of these clinicals
:Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis
:Chronic hypoparathyroid
:Autoimmune adrenal insufficiency
- Other: Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, DM type1, Autoimmune thyroid disease, Lymphocytic hypophysitis, Pernicious anemia, Chronic active hepatitis, Vitiligo, Alopecia

13. PGA syndrome PGA type2 - Polygenic, asso. with HLA DR3,DR4
- Adult onset
- Primary adrenal insufficiency, Grave’s disease, Autoimmune thyroiditis, DM type1, Primary hypogonadism, celiac disease

14. Infection
- Granulomatous diseases eg.TB, MAC, Histoplasmosis, Cryptococcosis, blastomycosis, CMV necrotizing adrenalitis
- AIDS
: AIDS associated adrenal insufficiency
( necrotizing adrenalitis)
: Opportunistic infection- CMV,TB, MAC
: Kaposi’s sarcoma

15. Histoplasmosis:
Large bilateral adrenal masses (arrows) patchy& peripheral enhancement, central hypodensities, septations.

16. Hemorrhage and infarction
- Anticoagulant
- Hypercoagulable states eg. Antiphospholipid syndrome
- Meningococcemia, pseudomonas infection (Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome)
Infiltration:
- Metastasis: breast, lung, kidney, pancrease, melanoma, stomach
- Lymphoma
- Other infiltrative diseases: amyloidosis, sarcoidosis, scleroderma

18. Metabolic failure in hormone production
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
: Inborn error of cortisol synthesis
: 5 types ( classified by type of enz. deficiency)
- Most common :21-hydroxylase deficiency
- 2nd most common: 11-hydroxylase deficiency
Drugs
- Enzyme inhibitors: Metyrapone, phenytoin , barbiturate, ketoconazole, aminoglutethimide
- Cytotoxic agent: Mitotane

19. Secondary adrenal insufficiency
1.Suppression of H-P axis
- By exogenous steroid
- By endogenous steroid from tumor

20. Steroid induced adrenal insufficiency
Long-term glucocorticoid therapy (suppression of CRH production).
15 mg qd prednisone (or equivalent) for 3+ weeks---- HPA axis can be suppressed for ~ 8-12 months.
Divided daily dosing more suppressive than once daily dosing.
Giving steroid every other day avoids axis suppression
QOD dosing helps with all side effects except the cumulative ones: osteoporosis, cataract.
Clue to adrenal HPA axis suppression is small joint aches (hands, feet) when glucocorticoid is withdrawn.
Large doses of progesterone or megace also suppress adrenal axis.

21. Secondary adrenal insufficiency
2. Hypopituitarism due to hypothalamic-pituitary disease
- Sheehan’s syndrome- most common (not include exogenous steroid)
- Pituitary tumor, metastasis
- Craniopharyngioma
- Infection: TB
- Pituitary surgery or radiation
- Others: lymphocytic hypophysitis, sarcoidosis, histiocytosisX

22. Relative adrenal insufficiency
Critical care and Resuscitation: Journal of the Australasian Critical Care Medicine,2006 Dec;8(4):371-5
- In septic shock
- Increment of < 250 nmol/L in total serum cortisol level after administration of 250 microg corticotropin
- RAI associated with increased risk of death
- There is strong, but not overwhelming, evidence that administration of low doses of hydrocortisone to patients with septic shock, especially those with RAI, improves survival.

23. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 2006 Dec 15
In sepsis, adrenal insufficiency is likely when
- Baseline cortisol levels <10 microg/dl or
- Delta cortisol <9 microg/dl
Unlikely when
- Cosyntropin-stimulated cortisol level > 44 microg/dl or
- Delta cortisol > 16.8 microg/dl

24. Diagnosis

25. Clinical manifestations
Chronic Primary adrenal insufficiency
- Weakness, fatigue, anorexia, Wt. loss: cardinal symptom
- Hyperpigmentation: Sun-exposed area, pressured area, skin creases, mucous membrane
- Arterial hypotension, dehydration
- Abnormality of GI function: N/V, diarrhea
- Lab abnormalities: Anemia (NCNC/pernicious anemia), Lymphocytosis, Eosinophilia, hypoglycemia, hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis

27. Clinical manifestations
Acute adrenal crisis
- Hypovolemic shock (unexplained vascular collaspe)
- Abdominal pain
- Weakness, apathy, and confusion
- Precipitated by stress
- Acute adrenal hemorrhage: abdominal, flank, or back pain with rigidity/ rebound tenderness

28. Clinical manifestations
Secondary adrenal insufficiency
- Clinically same as 1ry Adrenal insufficiency
- No hyperpigmentation, severe hyponatremia, severe dehydration, or hyperkalemia
- Multiple hormone deficiency: total pituitary insufficiency
- Cushinoid appearance: prolonged excess glucocorticoid

29. Clinical manifestations
Persistent shock despite adequate volume repletion
Abnormal Lab
History of prolonged steroid use+precipitating factors/ Cushinoid appearance

30. 1ry and 2ry adrenal insuff.
1ry adrenal insuff. and associated disorder
2ry adrenal insuff. and associated disorders
-Tiredness, weakness, mental depression, headache
-Anorexia, wt. loss
-Dizziness, orthostatic hypotension
-Abdominal cramps, N/V, diarrhea
-Hyponatremia
-Hypoglycemia
-Mild normocytic anemia, lymphocytosis, eosinophilia
-Hypercalcemia(rare)
-Loss of body hair in women
-Hyperpigmentation
-Hyperkalemia
-Vitiligo
-Autoimmune thyroid disease
-CNS symptoms in adrenomyeloneuro
pathy
-Salt craving
-Acidosis (type IV RTA)
-Increased taste sensitivity (to salt)
-Hyperacusis
-Thorn’s sign: auricular calcification (male only)
-Pale skin with out marked anemia
-Amenorrhea, decraesed libido, and potency
-Scanty axillary and pubic hair
-Small testicles
-Secondary hypothyroidism
-Prepubertal growth deficit, delayed puberty
-Headache, visual symptoms
-Diabetes insipidus

31. suspected adrenal insufficiency
Rapid ACTH stimulation test
Decreased ACTH reserve not excluded
Abnormal
Normal
Adrenocortical insufficiency
Exclude 1ry Adrenal insufficiency
Metyrapone or insulin hypoglycemia testing
Plasma ACTH
Elevated
Normal or low
Abnormal
Normal
1ry Adrenal insufficiency
2ry Adrenal insufficiency
Exclude 2ry Adrenal insufficiency

32. Morning plasma cortisol:
<5 ug/dL--- Suspected adrenal insufficiency
>20 ug/dL--- Exclude adrenal insufficiency
Rapid ACTH stimulation test
- Serum cortisol at 8.00 am
- Cosyntropin 250 ug iv. or IM
- Plasma cortisol at 30 and 60 min after injection
: Normal cortisol > 20 ug/dL or >7 ug/dL from baseline
Adrenal insufficiency < 20 ug/dL

33. Plasma ACTH level
- Primary adrenal insufficiency >52 pg/ml
( usually>200 pg/ml)
- Secondary adrenal insufficiency –normal or<10 pg/ml
Aldosterone increment
- Aldosterone response 60 min after cosyntropin 250 mg IV or IM
- Secondary adrenal insufficiency: Normal increment > 5 ng/dL
- Primary adrenal insufficiency: No increment

34. Tests to confirm 2ry adrenal insufficiency
Prolong ACTH stimulation
- Baseline plasma cortisol
- Cosyntropin 250 ug iv q 8 hr for 48 hr.
: Primary adrenal insufficiency- plasma cortisol no change
: Secondary adrenal insufficiency- progressive increase in plasma cortisol, and level >20 ug/dL

35. Tests to confirm 2ry adrenal insufficiency
Insulin induced hypoglycemia
- Suspected hypothalamic or pituitary disease
- NPO after midnight, 0.9% NSS iv
- Short acting insulin u/kg at morning
- Blood for plasma glucose and cortisol at 30, 60, 90, and 120 min
Normal response- if BS <40 mg/dl---cortisol> 20 ug/dl
( Avoid when hypoglycemia is contraindicated, 1ry adrenal insufficiency, stroke, epilepsy)

36. Tests to confirm 2ry adrenal insufficiency
Short metyrapone test
- Metyrapone 30 mg/kg orally at PM
- Blood for cortisol and 11-deoxycortisol at 8.00 AM
Normal- cortisol < 8 ug/dl
deoxycortisol > 7ug/dl
(Metyrapone not available in Thailand)

37. Treatment :Acute Adrenal crisis
Glucocorticoid replacement
1.Hydrocortisone 100 mg iv every 6 hr. for 24 hr.
2. Hydrocortisone 50 mg every 6 hr. when stable
3. Maintenance therapy (10 mg 3 times/days) by day 4 or 5
4. Increase dose to mg/day if complication occurs
General and supportive measures
1. Correct volume depletion, dehydration, hypoglycemia with iv saline and glucose
2. Correct infection and other precipitating causes

38. Treatment: Maintenance therapy
Hydrocortisone mg in AM and 10 mg orally at 4-5 PM
Fludrocortisone mg orally in AM
Clinical follow-up: Clinical feature, BW, BP, Elyte
Increased hydrocortisone during stress

39. Response to therapy
General clinical signs: appetite, sense of well-being
Cushing’s syndrome: overtreatment
ACTH and urine free cortisol not a reliable index
Mineralocorticoid replacement:
- BP without orthostatic change
- Elyte- Na and K
- Plasma renin activity (PRA)- upright <5 ng/mL/hr

40. Steroid coverage for surgery
Correct Elyte, BP, hydration
Hydrocortisone 100 mg IM on call
Hydrocortisone 50 mg IM or IV in recovery room and q 6 hr. for 24 hr.
Reduce dose to 25 mg q 6 hr. for 24 hr. and taper to maintenance dose over 3-5 days
Increase dose to mg/day if complications occur

41. Case 1
69-year-old female presented with palpitations and a history of tiredness and shortness of breath for several weeks.
She had a previous history of Raynaud
syndrome.
Get a persistent tan since the previous summer
Her only medication was nifedipine for her Raynaud syndrome.

42. Progress
Admitted into hospital two weeks after initial presentation.
Increasing lethargy and tiredness, reduced appetite ,fainting, and weight loss.
On examination, she was pigmented and thin
Her pulse rate 76/min. BP 77/59 mm Hg.
The rest of the examination was normal.
Serum sodium 132 mmol/l, potassium 5.1 mmol/l
BUN/Cr within normal limits

45. SerumTSH 7.87 mU/l (0.3–4.1 mU/l); serum FT3 18 pmol/l (11–23 pmol/l)
Extractable-nuclear-antigen ribonucleic proteins - positive
Thyroid microsomal antibodies- positive (titre greater than 1/800)
ANA - negative.
Cortisol at baseline 135 mmol/l
Rapid ACTH test- cortisol at 30 minutes 144 mmol/l
Baseline ACTH 434 pg/l (0–47 pg/l)
Plasma renin activity 8.9 ng/ml/h (1.1–4.1 ng/ml/h); and aldosterone <50 pmol/l (220–430 pmol/l).

46. Primary adrenal insufficiency: Addison’s disease

47. IV saline and dextrose.
IV or IM hydrocortisone by multiple bolus injections or by continuous infusion mg daily
Patient’s condition improved : Hydrocortisone given orally 40 mg in the morning and 20 mg in the evening
3-4 days hydrocortisone reduced to mg daily in two or three divided doses,
Mineralocorticoid is introduced at this stage (Fluodrocortisone mg daily)

48. Case 2 68-year-old woman found on the floor 28 hr PTA
Cough and diarrhea.
No significant medical history ,not take any regular medications.
At presentation, her core temperature was 24.9 C, BP 80 mm Hg systolic, PR 40, and GCS 11
Physical examination
- Consistent with right basal pneumonia.
- No abdominal tenderness, or signs of endocrine dysfunction or trauma.

49. Haemoglobin was 138 g/L, but fell to 97 g/L 24 h later.
Electrolytes, clotting profile, DIC screen, serum calcium, and TFT were normal.
Toxicology screen- negative.
CRP 170 mg/L (normal <10 mg/L).
Antiphospholipid antibody screen - negative.
She was rewarmed, fluid-resuscitated, given adrenaline and atropine,

50. ECG showed sinus bradycardia and Osborn waves, which disappeared after rewarming.

51. Persistent, inotrope-refractory hypotension
Short Synacthen (ACTH) test : Basal cortisol level 57 nmol/L
Failed to rise 30 and 60 min- 55 and 60 nmol/L, respectively.
ACTH was 178 pmol/L (normal<46 pmol/L)
Consistent with primary adrenal insufficiency.
Adrenal CT - showed bilateral adrenal haemorrhages

53. Chest radiography confirmed right basal pneumonia.
She received intravenous hydrocortisone and antibiotics, and made an uneventful recovery.

54. Thank you
For your attention