3/4 Adrenal Glands: Hypoadrenocorticism COMPLETE ***

Question 1

Hypoadrenocorticism: What other name can be given to this disease?
- Which species is this common in?
- Which species is this rare in?

Answer 1

Addisons disease

dogs

cats

Question 2

Hypoadrenocorticism: State the different classifications of Hypoadrenocorticism

Answer 2

primary hypoadrenocorticism
secondary hypoadrenocorticism
iatrogenic hypoadrenocorticism

Question 3

Hypoadrenocorticism: What causes Primary Hypoadrenocorticism?
- What causes Secondary Hypoadrenocorticism?

Answer 3

loss of the adrenal cortex

ACTH deficiency

Question 4

Hypoadrenocorticism: What causes Iatrogenic Hypoadrenocorticism?

Answer 4

the administration of exogenous steroids

Question 4

Hypoadrenocorticism: Primary
- What are some of the causes of Primary Hypoadrenocorticism? 2

Answer 4

idiopathic atrophy
iatrogenic

Question 5

Hypoadrenocorticism: Primary
- How much of the adrenal cortex must be lost?
- What is the effect of loss of the adrenal cortex that causes most of the symptoms?

Answer 5

90%

a deficiency of glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids

Question 6

Hypoadrenocorticism: Primary
- Give the signalment 3

Answer 6

young to middle aged dogs
mostly female
poodles and Great Danes are predisposed

Question 6

Hypoadrenocorticism: Which type of Hypoadrenocorticism is most common?

Answer 6

primary

Question 7

Hypoadrenocorticism: Primary
- What does the Glucocorticoid deficiency cause? 5

Answer 7

decreased stress tolerance
vomiting and diarrhoea
polyuria and polydipsia
anorexia
anaemia

Question 8

Hypoadrenocorticism: Primary
- What does the Mineralocorticoid deficiency cause? 3

Answer 8

hyponatraemia
hypochloridaemia
hyperkalaemia

Question 9

Hypoadrenocorticism: If chronic, what worsens the clinical signs?
- How does the animal appear between bouts?

Answer 9

stress

animal appears normal

Question 10

Hypoadrenocorticism: If acute, what serious signs may you see? 4
- What is the cause of these clinical signs? 2

Answer 10

hypovolaemia
collapse
extreme weakness
bradycardia

most signs caused by hypovolaemic shock
bradycardia may be due to hyperkalaemia

Question 11

Hypoadrenocorticism: Diagnosis
- State the order of basic tests to diagnose

Answer 11

blood biochemistry
complete blood count
urinalysis
ECG

Question 12

Hypoadrenocorticism: What would you expect to see on a complete blood count and why?

Answer 12

anaemia

due to decreased erythrocytosis from lack of cortisol
GI bleeding

Question 13

Hypoadrenocorticism: What would you expect to see on blood biochemistry? 5

Answer 13

hyponatraemia
hypochloridaemia
hyperkalaemia
azotaemia
sodium: potassium ratio of less than 23

Question 14

Hypoadrenocorticism: What would you expect to see on Urinalysis?
- why?

Answer 14

urine specific gravity would be inappropriately low in a dehydrated animal

sodium and chloride in the filtrate impairs the kidneys ability to retain water

Question 15

Hypoadrenocorticism: What could you see on an ECG? 4
- What are all these ECG changes a result of?

Answer 15

bradycardia
peaked T wave
decrease in P wave amplitude
ventricular asystole

hyperkalaemia

Question 15

Hypoadrenocorticism: Name one Hypoadrenocorticism specific test for diagnosis
- What will a positive result be and why?

Answer 15

ACTH stimulation

flat line stimulation because exogenous ACTH will have no effect on the production of steroids

Question 16

Hypoadrenocorticism: Treatment
- What treatment can be given?

Answer 16

dexamethasone