Addison's disease (aka chronic adrenal insufficiency, hypocortisolism, hypoadrenalism) is a rare, chronic endocrine system disorder, in which the adrenal glands don't produce sufficient steroid hormones (glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids).

• Numerous relatively non-specific Sx, e.g. abdominal pain and weakness
• Addisonian crisis, a severe illness which may include:
  • Shock (very low BP)
  • Coma

• Body is subjected to stress, foten, including:
  • Accident
    Injury
  • Surgery
  • Severe infection or illness

• Lab tests, showing:
  • Hypercalcemia
  • Hypoglycemia (low BSL's), worse in kids due to loss of glucocorticoid's glucogenic effects
  • Hyponatremia (low blood sodium), due to loss of production of the hormone aldosterone, to the kidney's inability to excrete free water in the absence of sufficient cortisol, and also the effect of CRH (corticotropin-releasing hormone) to stimulate secretion of ADH
  • Hyperkalemia (raised blood potassium), due to loss of production of the hormone aldosterone. Aldosterone causes sodium retention, but it causes potassium excretion
  • Eosinophilia (increased eosinophils) and lymphocytosis (increased lymphocytes)
  • Metabolic acidosis (icnreased blood acidity), due to loss of the hormone aldosterone because sodium reabsorption in the distal tubule is linked w/ H+ secretion. Low levels of aldosteorne stimulation of the renal distal tubule causes sodium wasting in the urine, and H+ retention in the blood

• Death may quickly follow