Disorders of Adrenal Gland

DISORDERS OF
ADRENAL GLAND
• Each gland is divided into tow parts:
– Cortex – outer part of gland
• Part of hypothalamus – pituitary – adrenal axis
• Secrete a variety of steroid hormones
–Medulla – inner part of gland, (20% of gland)
• Part of sympathetic nervous system
Secrete catecholamines
– Both parts are structurally and functionally different

ADRENAL CORTEX
• The large cortical cells are arranged into three layers or zones :
– The zona glomerulosa
• The thin outermost layer • Constitute about 15% of cortex
– The zona fasciculata
• The middle and largest portion • Constitute about 75% of cortex.
– The zona reticularis,
• The innermost zone.
Adrenal Cortex, Function :
MINERALOCORTICOIDS – regulate sodium retention and
potassium loss and body fluid
GLUCOCORTICOIDS – act as anti-inflammatory agents;
affect metabolism.
ANDROGENS – regulates growth and development of
genetalia and puberty
Adrenal Medulla, Function :

ADRENALINE (EPINEPHRINE) – increases heart rate and
blood pressure.
NORADRENALINE (NOREPINEPHRINE) – constricts
arterioles.
Zona glomerulosa:
Zona glomerulosa: – Produce
meniralocorticods
• – Mainly aldosterone (because it contain
enzyme aldosterone synthase
Hormones that help control the balance of

minerals (Na+ and K+) and water in the blood
Kidney conserves Na+.
Kidney excretes K+.
Responds to changes in composition of

plasma.
Regulated by renin-angiotensin system of

kidney
Zona reticularis:
– The innermost layer of the adrenal cortex, lying deep to the zona
faciculata and superficial to the medulla.
– These cells produce androgensandrogens
– The androgens produced includes
• Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)
• Androstenedione
– Synthesized from cholesterol • DHEA is further converted to DHEA-
sulfate via a sulfotransferase
• – The androgens produced are released into the blood stream and
taken up in the testis and ovaries to produce testosterone and the
estrogens respectively.
Normal adrenal gland
physiology in which
corticotropin-releasing
hormone (CRH) from the
hypothalamus reaches the
pituitary gland through the
hypophysiotropic portal
system to cause ACTH
secretion. ACTH interacts
with its receptors on the
adrenal glands to produce
cortisol and androgens.
Cortisol exerts glucocorticoid
effects and provides feedback
inhibition on the pituitary
gland and hypothalamus to
suppress CRH and ACTH
secretion until a normal
equilibrium is reached
•Disorders of adrenal
cortex
Patient with adrenal disorders can present
with features related to:
• HYPOFUNCTION OF THE GLAND
• HYPERFUNCTION OF THE GLAND

Adrenal Dysfunction
Decrease function Increase function

• Adrenal insufficiency • Cushing syndrome
• Low cortisol, aldestrone High Cortisol
• Eg Addison disease • Hyperaldosteronism
High aldestrone
• Pheochromocytoma
High catecholamine
.
Adrenal Hypofunction
• Adrenal insufficiency leads to a reduction in the
output of adrenal hormones – glucocorticoids and/or
mineralocorticoids
• Two types of adrenal insufficiency

• Primary insufficiency
• inability of the adrenal glands to produce enough
steroid inability of the adrenal glands to produce
enough steroid hormones
• Secondary insufficiency
• inadequate pituitary or hypothalamic stimulation of
the adrenalin adequate pituitary or hypothalamic
stimulation of the adrenal glands
ADDISONS DISEASE
Primary adrenocortical insufficiency (Addison's

disease) is characterized by inadequate
secretion of corticosteroids resulting from
partial or complete destruction of the adrenal
glands.
Addison disease
• Autoimmune
• Isolated or associated with other autoimmune disease
• Presents with tiredness, weight loss, skin pigmentation
• Aldestrone & cortisol low, high ACTH, high renin
• Low sodium , high potasium
• ACTH stimulation test
• Adrenal antibodies
• Treatment : cortisol + aldestrone .
CLINICAL MANIFESTATION
Addisonian crisis
• Life threatening complication
• Severe vomiting and diarrhoea followed
by dehydration
• Low blood pressure and shock
• Hypoglycemia
• Loss of consciousness
INVESTIGATIONS (HORMONAL)
• Plasma cortisol concentration
• <50nmol/L at 0900H → effectively diagnostic
• >550nmol/L excludes the Dx
• ACTH stimulation test / Synacthen test
• Measurement of plasma ACTH
• Metyrapone test
• CRH stimulation test
• Plasma renin and aldosterone levels
PLASMA ACTH MEASUREMENT
• To differentiate between primary and secondary adrenal failure
• Primary insufficiency - ACTH increased ↑
• Secondary insufficiency - ACTH decreased ↓

Adrenal hyperfunction
Increase function
• Cushing syndrome High Cortisol
• Hyperaldosteronism High aldestrone
• Pheochromocytoma High catecholamine .

Hyperaldosteronism
• A medical condition where too much aldosterone is produced by the
adrenal glands, which can lead to sodium retention and potassium loss.
• Types:
– Primary hyperaldosteronism
– Secondary hyperaldosteronism

Primary hyperaldosteronism
Conn’s syndrome
• Characterized by autonomous excessive production of aldosterone by
adrenal glands
• Presents with HPT, hypokalaemic alkalosis and renal K+ wasting
• Causes:
• – Adrenal adenoma
• – Bilateral hypertrophy of zona glomerulosa cells
• – Adrenal carcinoma • Rare cause
Conn’s syndrome
• Clinical features:
– Hypertension : aldosterone induced Na retention with increase in
ECF volume
– Muscle weakness: Due to decrease K+
– Muscle paralysis: severe hypokalaemia
– Latent tetany and paraesthesiae
– Polydipsia, polyuriapolyuria and nocturia: due to hypokalaemic
nephropathy
INVESTIGATION
Electrolyte & blood gasses:
• – Hypernatraemia
• – Hypokalaemica
• – Alkalosis –
• Urinary potassium loss, level >
30 mmol daily during
hypokalaemia
CUSHINGS SYNDROME
CAUSES
PATHOPHYSYOLOGY
Clinical features
• Truncal obesity with deposition of adipose tissue in characteristic site (moon
face, buffalo hump)– exact mechanism unknown
• Thinning of skin – catabolic response

• Purple striae – catabolic response
• Excessive bruising – catabolic response
• Hirsutism ( esp adrenal carcinoma ) - ↑ adrenal androgen
• Menstrual irregularities - ↑ adrenal androgen
• Skin pigmentation ( ACTH ↑ ) – melanocyte stimulating activity
Cont..
• • Hypertension – mineralocorticoid effect → sodium retention –
Potassium wasting → hypokalamic alkalosis
• • Glucose intolerance - ↑ hepatic gluconeogenesis and insulin
resistance
• • Muscle weakness and wasting – catabolic response in peripheral
supportive tissue
• • Back pain ( osteoporosis and vertebral collapse) – inhibit bone
formation
• • Psychiatric disturbances – euphoria, mania, depression
INVESTIGATION

Disorders of Adrenal Gland

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Disorders of Adrenal Gland

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DISORDERS OF

– Both parts are structurally and functionally different

Adrenal Medulla, Function :

Hormones that help control the balance of

Responds to changes in composition of

Regulated by renin-angiotensin system of

• HYPERFUNCTION OF THE GLAND

Decrease function Increase function

• Two types of adrenal insufficiency

Primary adrenocortical insufficiency (Addison's

• Primary insufficiency - ACTH increased ↑

• Secondary insufficiency - ACTH decreased ↓

• Hyperaldosteronism High aldestrone

• Pheochromocytoma High catecholamine .

• Thinning of skin – catabolic response

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