adrenal Flashcards
adrenal gland is composed of
medulla- 10%
cortex- 90%
adrenal cortex is composed of
zona glomerulosa
zona fasciculata
zona reticularis
What happens in adrenal medulla
tyrosine is converted to epi and norepi in response to stress
what happens in zona glomerulosa
RAAS, aldosterone produced
what happens in zona fasciculata
cortisol
controlled by HPA, ACTH
what happens in zona reticularis
androgens
controlled by HPA, ACTH
the adrenal cortex synthesizes what 2 classes of steroids
and how many carbons do they have
corticosteroids (glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids): 21 carbons
androgens: 19 carbons
main mineralocorticoid
aldosterone
main glucocorticoids
cortisol, corticosterone
endogenous cortisol= exogenous _________
hydrocortisone
hydrocortisone usefulness
1:1 anti-inflammatory:mineralocorticoid
useful for adrenal insufficiency: Addison’s, sepsis
prednisolone, prednisone modifications to cortisol
a double bond: increases anti-inflammatory effect
methylprednisolone modifications to cortisol
a methyl group: increase anti-inflammatory effect
high glucocorticoid activity useful for immunologic flares like MS, rejection
fludrocortisone modifications to cortisol
fluoro group: increases mineralocorticoid effect
useful for addison’s disease: treat hyperkalemia, hypotension
dexamethasone modifications to cortisol
has a methyl group, double bond, and fluoro group
NO mineralocorticoid at all
100% anti-inflammatory: good for meningitis or anti-emetic
main buckets: hyperfunction of adrenal gland
Cushing syndrome
Hyperaldosteronism
2 main buckets of cushing syndrome
ACTH dependent: Cushing DISEASE, or ectopic ACTH secretion by a nonpituitary tumor
ACTH independent: adrenocortical adenoma or carcinoma
broad 3 main steps for diagnosis of cushing syndrome
1: rule out iatrogenic causes
2: establish presence of hypercortisolism
3: determine if ACTH dependent or independent
how do you establish the presence of hypercortisolism
most common is the low dose dexamethasone test: give 1 mg dexamethasone PO btwn 11 pm-midnight, then draw levels at 8am. if dexamethasone is detectable and cortisol is high, diagnosed hypercortisolism
other options: 24hr urinary free cortisol conc, late night salivary cortisol conc
what if there is hypercortisolism but plasma ACTH is undetected
then it is adrenocorticol adenoma or carcinoma