Disorders of adrenal glands
- pathologic condition or abnormal functioning of either or both of the paired glands situated in the retroperitoneal tissues at the superior pole of the kidneys or adrenal glands.
Cushing's syndrome
- A syndrome characterized by abnormal secretion of adrenocorticotrophic hormone in conjunction with neoplastic growth occurring anywhere in the body. The most common associations are tumors of the bronchus (oat cell or carcinoid), thymic tumors (epithelial or carcinoid), and pancreatic endocrine tumor. (DeVita et al. Cancer, p 1364. 4th edition. Lippincott)
- abnormally increased secretion of adrenal hormones.
- complex of symptoms and signs due to excessive production or administration of hydrocortisone or its semi-synthetic analogs.
- condition, more commonly seen in females, due to hyperadrenocorticism resulting from neoplasms of the adrenal cortex or the anterior lobe of the pituitary, or to prolonged excessive intake of glucocorticoids for therapeutic purposes; symptoms and signs may include rapidly developing adiposity of the face, neck, and trunk, kyphosis caused by osteoporosis of the spine, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, amenorrhea, hypertrichosis in females, impotence in males, dusky complexion with purple markings, polycythemia, pain in the abdomen and back, and muscular wasting and weakness.
Hyperaldosteronism
- abnormality of electrolyte function caused by excessive secretion of aldosterone by the adrenal cortex.
Primary aldosteronism
- abnormality of electrolyte function caused by excessive secretion of aldosterone by the adrenal cortex.
Glucocorticoid-remediable aldosteronism
Conn's syndrome
- overproduction of aldosterone by an adrenal cortical adenoma, characterized typically by low potassium levels, underacidity of the body, muscular weakness, excess urination, excess thirst, and high blood pressure.
Bartter's syndrome
- transmitted as an autosomal recessive trait; characterized by hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the juxtaglomerular cells, and increased concentrations of renin, angiotensin II, and aldosterone in the absence of edema and hypertension.
- Hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the juxtaglomerular apparatus with secondary hyperaldosteronism with normal blood pressure and hyperkalemic alkalosis in the absence of edema. Most patients show growth and mental retardation. Nephrocalcinosis and hypercalcinuria occur in some cases. Diuretic abuse may produce a syndrome with similar characteristics (pseudo-Bartter or factitious Bartter syndrome).
Other secondary aldosteronism
Adrenogenital disorders
- group of syndromes caused by inherited defects in cortisol and/or aldosterone biosynthesis; ACTH elevation is caused by low levels of cortisol, whose production is impaired by absence or deficiency of one of the five enzymes necessary for its synthesis from cholesterol.
- abnormal possession of mature masculine somatic characteristics by a girl, woman, or prepubescent; may be present at birth or may appear first later in life, depending on its cause; it may be relatively mild (hirsutism) or severe; commonly the result of gonadal or adrenocortical dysfunction, or may be produced by androgenic therapy.
Other corticoadrenal overactivity
Corticoadrenal insufficiency
- The inability of the adrenal gland to produce adequate amounts of cortisol.
Glucocorticoid deficiency
- disease characterized by hypotension, weight loss, anorexia, weakness, and sometimes a bronze-like melanotic hyperpigmentation of the skin; due to tuberculosis or autoimmune induced disease (hypofunction) of the adrenal glands that results in deficiency of aldosterone and cortisol.
- A hormonal disorder that occurs when the adrenal glands fail to release adequate amounts of glucocorticoids (cortisol), mineralocorticoids (aldosterone, 11-deoxycorticosterone), and androgens (dehydroepiandrosterone) to meet physiologic needs, despite release of ACTH from the pituitary.
- A rare endocrine or hormonal disorder that occurs when the adrenal glands do not produce enough of the hormone cortisol and in some cases, the hormone aldosterone. It may be due to a disorder of the adrenal glands themselves (primary adrenal insufficiency) or to inadequate secretion of ACTH by the pituitary gland (secondary adrenal insufficiency).
- The inability of the adrenal gland to produce adequate amounts of cortisol.
Mineralocorticoid deficiency
- aldosterone deficiency, usually associated with hypoadrenalism and characterized by hypotension, dehydration, and a tendency to excrete excessive amounts of sodium.
Other adrenal hypofunction
Medulloadrenal hyperfunction
Other specified disorders of adrenal glands
Unspecified disorder of adrenal glands
- pathologic condition or abnormal functioning of either or both of the paired glands situated in the retroperitoneal tissues at the superior pole of the kidneys or adrenal glands.
