Hypoadrenocorticism (Addison's disease) is a lack of adrenocortical hormones. In most dogs both cortisol and aldosterone are missing. It is uncommon but can be fatal, and it is easy to miss because the history (vague gastrointestinal signs that come and go) and the lab picture (azotemia with dilute urine) look like many commoner diseases. When it is recognised and treated, the long-term outlook is excellent.
Key facts
Hypoadrenocorticism at a glance- Species / system: Dog; adrenal cortex (endocrine).
- Cause: Usually immune-mediated destruction of the adrenal cortex (primary disease). Less often drugs (mitotane, trilostane), infiltrative disease, or a lack of pituitary ACTH (secondary disease).
- Classic presentation: A young to middle-aged female dog with waxing and waning vomiting, lethargy and weight loss that improves on IV fluids and then relapses. It can also present as hypovolemic collapse with hyperkalemia and a heart rate that is too slow for the degree of shock.
- Diagnosis: ACTH stimulation test, with a post-ACTH cortisol below 2 µg/dL (55 nmol/L).
- Treatment: Fluids and glucocorticoids in a crisis, then lifelong glucocorticoid plus (in most dogs) mineralocorticoid replacement.
- Not zoonotic or reportable.
What's inside
12 sections in the full guide- Key facts
- How the NAVLE tests this
- Cause and pathophysiology
- Clinical signs
- Diagnosis
- Differential diagnoses
- Treatment and management
- Prevention, control and public health
- Prognosis
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
The full guide also has 7 tables, 2 figures, 3 self-test questions and 20 references, available to NAVLE members.
Read the full study guide
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