Biomaterial Database

Treatment of acute adrenal insufficiency. 2007

Susan Meeking

Animal Medical Center, 510 East 62nd Street, New York, NY 10021, USA. susan.meeking@amcny.org

Hypoadrenocorticism is caused by a lack of endogenous glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid. These deficiencies can cause a myriad of clinical signs. This disease is uncommon and its clinical presentation is similar to many much more commonly recognized diseases such as renal failure and various gastrointestinal disorders. Severely affected patients may present in a life-threatening adrenocortical crisis, which is characterized by variable degrees of volume depletion and electrolyte abnormalities. The emergency clinician should maintain a high clinical suspicion for hypoadrenocorticism, as early recognition and rapid treatment of hypovolemia and electrolyte abnormalities can be lifesaving. The approach to emergency treatment of hypoadrenocorticism should be to recognize and treat life-threatening arrhythmias, replace intravascular volume and normalize perfusion, correct electrolyte abnormalities and hypoglycemia, administer glucocorticoids, and perform the adrenocorticotrophic hormone stimulation test for definitive diagnosis. Patients with this condition should have a favorable outcome when treated appropriately.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D011379	Prognosis	A prediction of the probable outcome of a disease based on a individual's condition and the usual course of the disease as seen in similar situations.	Prognostic Factor,Prognostic Factors,Factor, Prognostic,Factors, Prognostic,Prognoses
D002371	Cat Diseases	Diseases of the domestic cat (Felis catus or F. domesticus). This term does not include diseases of the so-called big cats such as CHEETAHS; LIONS; tigers, cougars, panthers, leopards, and other Felidae for which the heading CARNIVORA is used.	Feline Diseases,Cat Disease,Disease, Cat,Disease, Feline,Diseases, Cat,Diseases, Feline,Feline Disease
D002415	Cats	The domestic cat, Felis catus, of the carnivore family FELIDAE, comprising over 30 different breeds. The domestic cat is descended primarily from the wild cat of Africa and extreme southwestern Asia. Though probably present in towns in Palestine as long ago as 7000 years, actual domestication occurred in Egypt about 4000 years ago. (From Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th ed, p801)	Felis catus,Felis domesticus,Domestic Cats,Felis domestica,Felis sylvestris catus,Cat,Cat, Domestic,Cats, Domestic,Domestic Cat
D004283	Dog Diseases	Diseases of the domestic dog (Canis familiaris). This term does not include diseases of wild dogs, WOLVES; FOXES; and other Canidae for which the heading CARNIVORA is used.	Canine Diseases,Canine Disease,Disease, Canine,Disease, Dog,Diseases, Canine,Diseases, Dog,Dog Disease
D004285	Dogs	The domestic dog, Canis familiaris, comprising about 400 breeds, of the carnivore family CANIDAE. They are worldwide in distribution and live in association with people. (Walker's Mammals of the World, 5th ed, p1065)	Canis familiaris,Dog
D004573	Electrolytes	Substances that dissociate into two or more ions, to some extent, in water. Solutions of electrolytes thus conduct an electric current and can be decomposed by it (ELECTROLYSIS). (Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed)	Electrolyte
D005938	Glucocorticoids	A group of CORTICOSTEROIDS that affect carbohydrate metabolism (GLUCONEOGENESIS, liver glycogen deposition, elevation of BLOOD SUGAR), inhibit ADRENOCORTICOTROPIC HORMONE secretion, and possess pronounced anti-inflammatory activity. They also play a role in fat and protein metabolism, maintenance of arterial blood pressure, alteration of the connective tissue response to injury, reduction in the number of circulating lymphocytes, and functioning of the central nervous system.	Glucocorticoid,Glucocorticoid Effect,Glucorticoid Effects,Effect, Glucocorticoid,Effects, Glucorticoid
D000208	Acute Disease	Disease having a short and relatively severe course.	Acute Diseases,Disease, Acute,Diseases, Acute
D000309	Adrenal Insufficiency	Conditions in which the production of adrenal CORTICOSTEROIDS falls below the requirement of the body. Adrenal insufficiency can be caused by defects in the ADRENAL GLANDS, the PITUITARY GLAND, or the HYPOTHALAMUS.	Adrenal Gland Hypofunction,Hypoadrenalism,Adrenal Insufficiencies,Hypofunction, Adrenal Gland
D000311	Adrenal Glands	A pair of glands located at the cranial pole of each of the two KIDNEYS. Each adrenal gland is composed of two distinct endocrine tissues with separate embryonic origins, the ADRENAL CORTEX producing STEROIDS and the ADRENAL MEDULLA producing NEUROTRANSMITTERS.	Adrenal Gland,Gland, Adrenal,Glands, Adrenal