Addison's Disease (Primary Adrenal Insufficiency)

What Is Addison's Disease (Primary Adrenal Insufficiency)?

Addison's Disease, also known as Primary Adrenal Insufficiency, Hypoadrenalism, Chronic Adrenal Insufficiency, Chronic adrenocortical insufficiency, Hypocortisolism, and Hypocorticism is a chronic (long-term) underfunction of the outer part of the adrenal gland; known medically as chronic insufficiency of the adrenal cortex.

Addison's disease is an endocrine disorder - the endocrine system is a system of glands, each of which produces and gives out (secretes) a type of hormone to regulate the body. In patients with Addison's disease, the adrenal glands do not produce enough steroid hormones, specifically glucocorticoids (cortisol) and frequently mineralocorticoids (aldosterone) - these hormones help regulate blood pressure

What are the adrenal glands?

We have two adrenal glands, each of which sits on top of one of the kidneys, high up at the back of the abdominal wall.

Each adrenal gland consists of the cortex (an outer wall) and the medulla (the inner portion).

The adrenal glands produce hormones. These hormones help regulate:

• The heart rate
• Blood pressure
• The way our body uses food
• Various other vital functions

The adrenal cortex secretes:

• Glucocorticoids (cortisone-related hormones) - hormones that mainly affect carbohydrate metabolism, as well as (lesser extent) fats and proteins. Classed as steroids.
• Mineralocorticoids - a group of hormones that regulate the balance of water and electrolytes (e.g. iron, sodium, potassium, etc.) in the human body. They act on the tubules of the kidney.
• Sex hormones - small amounts of male and female sex hormones, testosterone and estrogen are also produced.

The adrenal medulla makes:

• Adrenaline - secreted when glucose blood levels are low. Also secreted when we exercise and are under stress. It causes glycogen to break down to sugar glucose in the liver.
• Noradrenaline - a neurotransmitter (neurohormone) of the sympathetic nervous system.

In patients with Addison's disease, the cortex of both adrenal glands are usually destroyed, disrupting the production of cortisol and aldosterone (steroid hormones). Learn More