Adrenal Insufficiency

Question 1

What is Waterhouse- Friderichsen syndrome?

Answer 1

Waterhouse–Friderichsen syndrome (WFS), hemorrhagic adrenalitis or fulminant meningococcemia is defined as adrenal gland failure due to bleeding into the adrenal glands, commonly caused by severe bacterial infection: Typically it is caused by Neisseria meningitidis.

Question 2

Name 5 causes of adrenal insufficiency (Addison’s)

Answer 2

Autoimmune
TB
Metastasis - lung, breast, renal cancer
Lymphoma
Opportunistic infections in HIV- CMV, Mycobacterium avium
Adrenal haemorrhage - Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome, antiphospholipid syndrome, SLE
Congenital

Question 3

What is the difference between Cushing’s syndrome and disease?

Answer 3

Cushing’s syndrome is a collection of signs and symptoms due to prolonged exposure to cortisol and Cushing’s disease is a specific type of Cushing’s syndrome characterised by increased ACTH production of because of a pituitary adenoma (or sometimes due to excess production of hypothalamus CRH).