Case Study: Addison's Disease
Case Study Unit 1:
Addison’s Disease and Adrenal Crisis
PHGY 230 McGraw
Dr. Thomas Addison first discovered the disease known as Addison’s disease, in London, 1855. At that particular time, the tuberculosis infection was the most common cause of adrenal insufficiency. It wasn’t until the middle of the twentieth century that tuberculosis was no longer the leading cause. Due to the discovery of effective antibiotics and vaccines developed in this century, Addison’s disease is now more commonly known as an autoimmune disease.
Addison’s Disease is one of the most common non-thyroid autoimmune endocrine disorders. Every year, about 1 in 100,000 people in the United States are affected with this disease, and women and men are usually affected quite equally. It affects a person during various stages of their life, and can go unnoticed for quite some time. If it does happen to go unnoticed, Addisonian Crisis, also known as Adrenal Crisis, can be life-threatening. Adrenal Crisis usually occurs in approximately 8% of people that have been diagnosed with Addison’s disease. Accurate incidence and statistic reports for Addison’s disease and adrenal crisis in the United States are hard to find since many cases are underestimated or not reported at all. Since the symptoms of most autoimmune endocrine disorders can also be symptoms for many other disorders, sometimes it becomes even more difficult to distinguish the cause and try to find a cure. Addison’s disease usually affects people during their late twenties and thirties, with many of these cases involving women. Less commonly it can be congenital in babies and also affect children. It can either occur as an “isolated” disorder, or as part of a “polyglandular endocrine” disorder. A polyglandular endocrine disorder tends to occur together with other diseases, and affects several glands, sometimes during the course of many years between the start of each disease.
The adrenal glands sit on top of the
Addison’s Disease and Adrenal Crisis
PHGY 230 McGraw
Dr. Thomas Addison first discovered the disease known as Addison’s disease, in London, 1855. At that particular time, the tuberculosis infection was the most common cause of adrenal insufficiency. It wasn’t until the middle of the twentieth century that tuberculosis was no longer the leading cause. Due to the discovery of effective antibiotics and vaccines developed in this century, Addison’s disease is now more commonly known as an autoimmune disease.
Addison’s Disease is one of the most common non-thyroid autoimmune endocrine disorders. Every year, about 1 in 100,000 people in the United States are affected with this disease, and women and men are usually affected quite equally. It affects a person during various stages of their life, and can go unnoticed for quite some time. If it does happen to go unnoticed, Addisonian Crisis, also known as Adrenal Crisis, can be life-threatening. Adrenal Crisis usually occurs in approximately 8% of people that have been diagnosed with Addison’s disease. Accurate incidence and statistic reports for Addison’s disease and adrenal crisis in the United States are hard to find since many cases are underestimated or not reported at all. Since the symptoms of most autoimmune endocrine disorders can also be symptoms for many other disorders, sometimes it becomes even more difficult to distinguish the cause and try to find a cure. Addison’s disease usually affects people during their late twenties and thirties, with many of these cases involving women. Less commonly it can be congenital in babies and also affect children. It can either occur as an “isolated” disorder, or as part of a “polyglandular endocrine” disorder. A polyglandular endocrine disorder tends to occur together with other diseases, and affects several glands, sometimes during the course of many years between the start of each disease.
The adrenal glands sit on top of the
References: Pub Med (December 11, 2011). “Addison’s Disease”. Pub Med Health, A.D.A.M. Fox, Stuart Ira (2002). “Diseases Caused by the Immune System”. Human Physiology, Seventh Edition Baron-Faust, Rita, and Buyon, Jill P., M.D. (2003). “Addison’s Disease”. The Autoimmune Connection: Essential Information for Women on Diagnosis, Treatment, and Getting on Marieb, Elaine N., and Hoehn, Katja (2011). “The Adrenal Glands”. Anatomy and Physiology, Fourth Edition