Addison's Disease Symptoms & Diagnosis

Symptoms

Symptoms may include:

• Extreme weakness, fatigue
• Weight loss
• Nausea or vomiting
• Chronic diarrhea
• Muscle weakness
• Darkening of freckles, nipples, scars, skin creases, gums, mouth, nail beds, and vaginal lining
• Emotional changes, especially depression
• Craving for salty foods
• Abdominal pain
• Anorexia
• Amenorrhea

A severe complication of Addison's disease is the Addisonian or adrenal crisis .

Symptoms include:

• Severe abdominal, back, or leg pain
• Fainting or semicomatose state
• Severe low blood pressure
• Severe dehydration
• Severe nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
• Low blood sugar
• Generalized muscle weakness

Diagnosis

The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be performed.

Tests may include:

• Blood and urine tests—to see if you have low levels of cortisol and aldosterone, high level of ACTH (ACTH is a hormone that stimulates the adrenal glands), and to measure levels of:
  • Anti-adrenal antibody
  • Sodium
  • Chloride
  • Calcium
  • Potassium
  • Bicarbonate
  • Blood urea nitrogen levels

• ACTH stimulation test —measures cortisol in the blood and/or urine before and after an injection of ACTH

• X-rays —pictures of the abdomen to see if the adrenal glands have signs of calcium deposits

• CT scan of the abdomen—a type of x-ray that uses a computer to make pictures of structures inside the body, in this case the adrenal glands