Addison's disease Flashcards
Adrenal insufficiency is an endocrine disorder that happens when the adrenal gland doesn’t produce enough hormones. There are the 3 layers of the adrenal gland, which of the following is NOT one of these layers?
1 - zone glomerulus
2 - zona media
3 - zona fasiculata
4 - zona reticularis
2 - zona media
Adrenal insufficiency is an endocrine disorder that happens when the adrenal gland doesn’t produce enough hormones. There are the 3 layers of the adrenal gland from outside moving in they are:
- zone glomerulus
- zona fasiculata
- zona reticularis
Link the hormones created with the layers that they are produced in:
- glucocorticoids
- androgens
- mineralcorticoids
- zone glomerulus = mineralcorticoids
- zona fasiculata = glucocorticoids
- zona reticularis = androgens
What is released by the hypothalamus to stimulate the pituitary gland in the hypothalamus pituitary adrenal axis (HPA)?
1 - corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)
2 - cortisol
3 - adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
4 - renin
1 - corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)
What is released by the pituitary gland secrete to stimulate the zona fasiculata of the adrenal gland in hypothalamus pituitary adrenal axis (HPA)?
1 - corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)
2 - cortisol
3 - adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
4 - renin
3 - adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
It is called primary adrenal insufficiency as the cause is located within the adrenal gland, which can be acute or chronic. What is the chronic form of primary adrenal insufficiency commonly called?
1 - von Willebrands
2 - cushings syndrome
3 - addisons disease
4 - conns disease
3 - addisons disease
- secondary adrenal insufficiency is typically because the pituitary gland is not functioning properly
What is the prevalence of primary adrenal insufficiency in the UK?
1 - 84
2 - 840
3 - 8400
4 - 84,000
3 - 8400
- 8 / 100,000
What is the most common age affected by primary adrenal insufficiency in the UK, and does this affect women or men more?
1 - 15 - 20 y/o
2 - 20 - 30 y/o
3 - 30 - 50 y/o
4 - >65 y/o
3 - 30 - 50 y/o
- women are more affected more
In primary adrenal insufficiency, what % of the adrenal cortex has to be affected/destroyed in order for symptoms to present?
1 - 25%
2 - 40%
3 - 60%
4 - >90%
4 - >90%
In addisons disease which 2 of the following are affected?
1 - mineralcorticoid
2 - catecholamines
3 - androgens
4 - glucocorticoids
1 - mineralcorticoid
- aldosterone deficiency
4 - glucocorticoids
- cortisol deficiency
Primary adrenal insufficiency is when there is a lack of glucocorticoid (cortisol) and mineralcorticoid (aldosterone) that is due to a problem with the adrenal gland. All of the following can cause primary adrenal insufficiency, BUT which is the most common, accounting for up to 80% of cases?
1 - autoimmune
2 - infiltrative (sarcoidosis)
3 - infective (TB)
4 - vascular
5 - haemorrhage/infarction
6 - adrenoleucodystrophy (membrane of adrenal glands is damaged)
7 - congenital adrenal insufficiency
8 - drugs
9 - metastatic deposition
1 - autoimmune
- TB is most common cause in under developed countries where the infection spreads from the lungs to the adrenal glands
Metastases can cause primary adrenal insufficiency. What are the most common locations where metastases come from?
1 - breast
2 - lung
3 - renal
4 - all of the above
4 - all of the above
Although rare Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome (WFS) can cause primary adrenal insufficiency. What is WFS?
1 - complication of TB
2 - complication of meningitis
3 - complication of ascites
4 - complication of pericarditis
2 - complication of meningitis
- specifically meningococcal sepsis
Primary adrenal insufficiency is when there is a lack of glucocorticoid (cortisol) and mineralcorticoid (aldosterone) that is due to a problem with the adrenal gland. Secondary adrenal insufficiency, called secondary because it does not affect the adrenal glands directly and may be from another source such as the pituitary gland or another malignancy. Are glucocorticoids the only thing that are affected in secondary adrenal insufficiency?
- yes
- adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) released from pituitary is specific to glucocorticoids
- mineralocorticoids are unaffected
Secondary adrenal insufficiency, called secondary because it does not affect the adrenal glands directly and may be from another source such as the pituitary gland or another malignancy. What is the main cause of secondary adrenal insufficiency?
1 - autoimmune disease
2 - malignancy
3 - infection
4 - iatrogenic
4 - iatrogenic
- long term use of steroids
- suppresses the pituitary-adrenal axis
When comparing primary and secondary adrenal insufficiency, which has a raised adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)?
- primary = high ACTH
- pituitary increases ACTH to get a response from adrenal gland
- secondary = low or absent ACTH
- adrenal gland is ok, but insufficient ACTH to respond