Chronic adrenal insufficiency

Etiology

Primary adrenal insufficiency (Addison’s disease)

  • Autoimmune
  • Surgical removal or trauma
  • Infection, e.g., tuberculosis, histoplasmosis
  • Adrenal hemorrhage
  • Metastatic cancer
  • Adrenoleukodystrophy
  • Hemochromatosis or amyloidosis
  • Congenital adrenal hyperplasia

Secondary adrenal insufficiency

  • Pituitary failure (atrophy, necrosis, tumor)
  • Exogenous steroids

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Last updated: January 12, 2015