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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffAddison's disease is a disorder that occurs when your body produces insufficient amounts of certain hormones produced by your adrenal glands. In Addison's disease, your adrenal glands produce too little cortisol and often insufficient levels of aldosterone as well.
Also called adrenal insufficiency or hypocortisolism, Addison's disease occurs in all age groups and affects both sexes. Addison's disease can be life-threatening.
Treatment for Addison's disease involves taking hormones to replace the insufficient amounts being made by your adrenal glands, in order to mimic the beneficial effects those naturally made hormones would normally produce.
- Adrenal insufficiency and Addison's disease. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Health and Kidney Disease. http://endocrine.niddk.nih.gov/pubs/addison/addisons.pdf. Accessed March 15, 2010.
- Addison's disease. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://merck.com/mmpe/sec12/ch153/ch153b.html#sec12-ch153-ch153b-397. Accessed March 15, 2010.
- Williams GH, et al. Disorders of the adrenal cortex. In: Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2900293&searchStr=addison's+disease#2900293. Accessed March 14, 2010.
- Nieman LK. Clinical manifestations of adrenal insufficiency in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 14, 2010.
- Nieman LK. Causes of primary adrenal insufficiency in adults (Addison's disease). http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 14, 2010.
- Nippoldt TB (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 17, 2010.
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