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Adrenal Crisis Risk Factors and Diagnosis

The patient has several risk factors for adrenal crisis including stopping steroid medication, dehydration, trauma from a fractured femur, and infection suggested by increased respiratory rate and fever. Primary adrenal insufficiency is diagnosed based on elevated ACTH and low cortisol, while secondary is diagnosed with low ACTH and cortisol, with primary typically causing more severe hypovolemia. The patient's symptoms, including hypotension and abdominal pain, are consistent with adrenal crisis from her risk factors including stopping steroids.

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Rajini Kumar
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66 views1 page

Adrenal Crisis Risk Factors and Diagnosis

The patient has several risk factors for adrenal crisis including stopping steroid medication, dehydration, trauma from a fractured femur, and infection suggested by increased respiratory rate and fever. Primary adrenal insufficiency is diagnosed based on elevated ACTH and low cortisol, while secondary is diagnosed with low ACTH and cortisol, with primary typically causing more severe hypovolemia. The patient's symptoms, including hypotension and abdominal pain, are consistent with adrenal crisis from her risk factors including stopping steroids.

Uploaded by

Rajini Kumar
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Questions: 1. What are the potential risk factors for the development of adrenal crisis?

Dehydration Infection and other physical stress Stopping treatment with steroids Surgery Trauma Family history of Addisons disease Fungal Infection or Tuberculosis Hypotension Diabetes Mellitus Injury to the adrenal or pituitary gland 2. What are the major pathologic changes associated with her clinical manifestation? Fracture of the Neck and of the Right Femur (Trauma) Nausea and Vomiting Abdominal pain Hypotension Has stopped taking steroid medication Dehydrated Weak Vital signs : RR= 22 (Increased respiratory rate) Temp = 38.8 degree Celsius 3. How can primary adrenal insufficiency be differentiated from secondary adrenal insufficiency? Primary Adrenal Insufficiency or Addison's disease is an insidious, usually progressive hypofunctioning of the adrenal cortex. It causes various symptoms, including hypotension and hyperpigmentation, and can lead to adrenal crisis with cardiovascular collapse. Diagnosis is clinical and by finding elevated plasma ACTH with low plasma cortisol. Secondary adrenal insufficiency is adrenal hypofunction due to a lack of ACTH. Symptoms are the same as for Addison's disease, but there is usually less hypovolemia. Diagnosis is clinical and by laboratory findings, including low plasma ACTH with low plasma cortisol.

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