Disorders of Adenocorticol Function Flashcards
What is characterised by decreased activity of the adrenal cortex?
Addisons disease
What may Addison’s disease be due to?
NAME?
What can cause disease of the adrenal cortex?
Autoimmune destruction
What is the result of reduction in activity of the adrenal cortex?
Reduces glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoid secretion
What do disorders of the pituitary and hypothalamus leading to decreased secretion of ACTH affect?
Glucocorticoids only
What is characterised by increased secretion of glucocorticoids?
Cushing’s syndrome
What may Cushing’s syndrome be due to?
- Increased activity of the adrenal cortex due to tumour (adenoma)
- Disorders in secretion of ACTH caused by pituitary adenoma
- Ectopic secretion of ACTH
What is the disease caused by pituitary adenoma causing increased ACTH secretion?
Cushing’s disease
What is congenital adrenal hyperplasia?
A number of clinical conditions that arise as a consequence of a genetic defect in one or more of the enzymes required for synthesis of cortisol
What happens due to the lack of cortisol in congenital adrenal hyperplasia?
The pituitary is not subjected to negative feedback control
What is the result of the pituitary not being subject to negative feedback?
It secretes large amounts of ACTH
What does excess ACTH secretion in congenital adrenal hyperplasia’s cause?
An enlargement of the adrenal cortex (hyperplasia)
What does the severity of the consequences of congenital adrenal hyperplasias depend on?
Which enzyme(s) is affected
What are the effects of excess cortisol secretion?
- Increased muscle proteolysis and hepatic gluconeogenesis
- Increased lipogenesis in adipose tissue
- Purple striae on lower abdomen, upper arms and thighs
- Immuno-suppressive, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic reactions of cortisol
- Back pain and collapse of ribs
- Hypertension
What can increased muscle proteolysis and hepatic gluconeogenesis lead to?
Hyperglycaemia, and associated polyuria and polydipsia
What is hyperglycaemia due to excess cortisol secretion called?
Steroid diabetes
What does increased muscle proteolysis cause?
Wasting of proximal muscle
What is the result of proximal muscle wastage?
NAME?
What does the increased lipogenesis in adipose tissue on excess cortisol secretion lead to?
Deposition of fate in abdomen, neck and face
What does the deposition of fat in excess cortisol secretion lead to?
The characteristic body shape, moon-shaped face and weight gain
What do the purple striae caused by excess cortisol secretion reflect?
The catabolic effects of protein structures in skin
What does the decreased protein integrity in skin caused by excess cortisol secretion lead to?
Easy bruising
Why does excess cortisol secretion lead to easy bruising?
Because there is thinning of the skin and subcutaneous tissue
What does the immunological effects of excess cortisol secretion lead to?
Increased susceptibility to bacterial infections, anda cne
Why may excess cortisol secretion cause back pain and rib collapse?
Due to osteoporosis
Why does excess cortisol production lead to osteoporosis?
Because of disturbances to calcium metabolism, and loss of bone matrix proteins
Why may mineralocorticoid effects of excess cortisol lead to hypertension?
Due to sodium and fluid retention
Where else may the symptoms of excess cortisol secretion occur?
In patients receiving long-term treatment with glucocorticoids for various chronic conditions
What would autoimmune destruction of the adrenal gland?
Involve loss of cortisol and mineralocorticoids
How does theloss of cortisol and mineralocorticoids present?
It is a complex situation, that may present as an acute emergency (Addisonian Crisis), or as a chronic debilitating disorder (Addison’s disease)