acute adrenocortical insufficiency


a·cute a·dre·no·cor·ti·cal in·suf·fi·cien·cy

severe adrenocortical insufficiency when an intercurrent illness or trauma causes an increased demand for adrenocortical hormones in a patient with adrenal insufficiency resulting from disease or use of relatively large amounts of similar hormones as therapy; characterized by nausea, vomiting, hypotension, and frequently hyperthemia, hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, and hypoglycemia; can be fatal if untreated. Death results from fulminant inflammation and/or circulatory collapses (that is, shock). Synonym(s): addisonian crisis, adrenal crisis, Bernard-Sergent syndrome

Acute Adrenal Crisis

Acute life-threatening adrenocortical insufficiency with markedly reduced serum cortisol, which arises in a background of chronic adrenocortical insufficiency (Addison’s disease). 
Aetiology Infections, trauma, adrenal haemorrhage, tuberculosis, surgery, dehydration with salt deprivation, destruction of pituitary gland or evoked by replacing thyroid hormone in patients with hypothyroidism of hypothalamic or pituitary origin and underlying mild ACTH deficiency.
Triggers GI infection, fever
Clinical findings Hypotension, shock, fever, dehydration, anorexia, weakness, apathy, headache, vomiting, chills, tachycardia, sweating, abdominal pain
Lab Reduced Na+, increased K+, increased white cells, eosinophilia, hypoglycaemia
Management Pharmacologic doses of IV hydrocortisone, pressor support

a·cute a·dre·no·cor·ti·cal in·suf·fi·ci·en·cy

(ă-kyūt' ă-drē'nō-kōr'ti-kăl in'sŭ-fish'ĕn-sē) Sudden worsening of signs and symptoms of corticosteroid deficiency when trauma or illness causes increased demand in a patient with impaired adrenal insufficiency.
Synonym(s): addisonian crisis, adrenal crisis.

Bernard,

Claude, French physiologist, 1813-1878. Bernard canal - the excretory duct of the head of the pancreas. Synonym(s): accessory pancreatic duct; Bernard ductBernard duct - Synonym(s): Bernard canalBernard puncture - a puncture at a point in the floor of the fourth ventricle of the brain which causes glycosuria. Synonym(s): diabetic punctureBernard syndrome - Synonym(s): Horner syndromeBernard-Cannon homeostasis - the set of mechanisms responsible for the cybernetic adjustment of physiological and biochemical states in postnatal life. Synonym(s): physiological homeostasisBernard-Horner syndrome - Synonym(s): Horner syndromeBernard-Sergent syndrome - Synonym(s): acute adrenocortical insufficiency

Addison,

Thomas, English physician, 1793-1860. Addison anemia - a chronic, progressive anemia of older adults due to failure of absorption of vitamin B12. Synonym(s): Addison-Biermer disease; addisonian anemia; Biermer anemia; Biermer disease; pernicious anemiaAddison-Biermer disease - Synonym(s): Addison anemiaAddison disease - Synonym(s): chronic adrenocortical insufficiencyaddisonian anemia - Synonym(s): Addison anemiaaddisonian crisis - Synonym(s): acute adrenocortical insufficiencyAddison-Schilder disease - Synonym(s): Schilder disease

Sergent,

Emile, French physician, 1867-1943. Bernard-Sergent syndrome - Synonym(s): acute adrenocortical insufficiencySergent white line - a pale streak appearing within 30 to 60 seconds after stroking the skin with a fingernail and lasting for several minutes, a sign of diminished arterial tension. Synonym(s): white line

a·cute a·dre·no·cor·ti·cal in·suf·fi·cien·cy

(ă-kyūt' ă-drē'nō-kōr'ti-kăl in'sŭ-fish'ĕn-sē) Disorder due to intercurrent illness that increases demand for adrenocortical hormones in a patient with adrenal insufficiency; can be fatal if untreated.
Synonym(s): addisonian crisis, adrenal crisis.