Week 6 Flashcards
(80 cards)
Primary adrenal insufficiency
patho, presentation, clinical features
gradual vereus rapid
- Pathophysiology: damage to the cortical cells (90% of cortex lost) that produce aldosterone and cortisol (adrenal medulla is preserved) → increased ACTH
- Presentation:
- Rapid (Waterhouse-Friderichsen): adrenal crisis due to hemorrhage → hypovolemic shock/coma → treat with glucocorticoids immediately
- Etiology: DIC secondary to N. meningitidis (children)
- Gradual (basal cortisol may be normal): Addison’s disease
- Rapid (Waterhouse-Friderichsen): adrenal crisis due to hemorrhage → hypovolemic shock/coma → treat with glucocorticoids immediately
- Clinical features: weakness, fatigue, loss of appetite, N/V, abdominal pain, weight loss, hyperpigmentation of skin (elevated ACTH → melanocyte production)
Primary adrenal insufficiency
labs and etiology
- Labs: ACTH is elevated, hypoglycemia, hypotension, hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, eosinophilia (low cortisol effect), increased BUN/creatinine (volume depletion)
- Etiology: Autoimmune (majority), adrenal hemorrhage (due to anticoagulant therapy), infections, metastatic disease, adrenoleukodystrophy (X-linked, defect in fatty acid metabolism → very long chain fatty acids accumulate in organs), infiltrative diseases (i.e. amyloidosis), drugs (i.e. ketoconazole)
Autoimmune polyglandular syndrome
1 versus 2
patho, etiology, Sx
- APS-1: Primary AI with hypoparathyroidism and mucocutaneous candidiasis
- Pathophysiology: autosomal recessive disease that is characterized by autoantibodies against cholesterol cleavage enzyme
- Etiology: mutation in autoimmune regulatory gene (AIRE)
- Sx: hepatitis, alopecia, vitiligo, hypogonadism, hypothyroidism
- APS-2: Primary AI with DM I and autoimmune thyroid disease
- Pathophysiology: anti-adrenal antibodies against 21-alpha-hydroxylase
- Associated with: genetic susceptibility linked to HLA-DR3/DR4
- Sx: less commonly alopecia, vitiligo, hypogonadism, celiac disease
Secondary adrenal insufficiency
patho, etiology,
- Pathophysiology: deficient pituitary ACTH secretion → low ACTH → decreased cortisol and adrenal androgens, but NO aldosterone deficiency
- Early: basal cortisol is normal (decreased reserve or recent pituitary surgery)
- Late: further loss of ACTH secretion → atrophy of adrenal cortex → decreased basal cortisol
- Etiology: exogenous steroids (majority), hypothalamic/pituitary tumors (HA, vision changes, look for loss or hypersecretion of other pituitary hormones)
Secondary adrenal insufficiency
sx, labs
- Sx: NO hyperpigmentation, NO hypotension, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting
- Labs: ACTH is low, hyponatremia (low cortisol → increased ADH → excessive water uptake), NO hyperkalemia, hypoglycemia, eosinophilia
4 ways to diagnose AI
and how do they work
- AM cortisol (assesses basal cortisol): reasonable initial screening test, but may be normal in partial/early AI
- ACTH stimulation test (assesses adrenocortical reserve): normal peak cortisol >18 mcg/dL
- If abnormal cortisol response to test, check ACTH
- High ACTH → primary adrenal insufficiency
- Low ACTH → secondary adrenal insufficiency
- If abnormal cortisol response to test, check ACTH
- Metyrapone Test: evaluates HPA axis’ response to stress
- MOA: Metyrapone blocks the 11β-hydroxylase enzyme which converts 11-deoxycortisol to cortisol → decreased cortisol synthesis → stimulates ACTH → increases 11-deoxycortisol
- 11-deoxycortisol > 7 and ACTH > 100 → normal pituitary ACTH secretion and adrenal function
- MOA: Metyrapone blocks the 11β-hydroxylase enzyme which converts 11-deoxycortisol to cortisol → decreased cortisol synthesis → stimulates ACTH → increases 11-deoxycortisol
- Insulin-induced hypoglycemia test: evaluates entire HPA axis’ response to stress
- MOA: Hypoglycemia → increases CRH release → increases ACTH secretion → increases cortisol secretion
- Normal response is a peak cortisol > 18mcg/dL
- MOA: Hypoglycemia → increases CRH release → increases ACTH secretion → increases cortisol secretion
Treatment of adrenal insufficiency
- Tx of acute adrenal crisis: IV glucocorticoids, IV fluids
- Tx of chronic AI: hormone replacement (glucocorticoids/hydrocortisone and/or mineralocorticoids/fludrocortisone)
ACTH independent versus dependent Cushing syndrome
compare eitiologies
- ACTH-dependent Cushing syndrome:
- Cushing disease: due to ACTH secreting pituitary tumor → increased ACRH and bilateral adrenal hyperplasia (majority of syndrome)
- Ectopic ACTH or CRH secretion by non-pituitary tumors (small-cell carcinoma) → increased ACTH (hyperpigmentation) and bilateral adrenal hyperplasia
- ACTH-independent Cushing syndrome:
- Exogenous corticosteroid treatment → decreased ACTH and bilateral adrenal atrophy
- Primary adrenal adenoma, hyperplasia, carcinoma → produce cortisol → decreased ACTH → leads to atrophy of uninvolved adrenal gland
- Ectopic receptors in adrenal gland (respond to GIP/food dependent or HCG/pregnancy dependent) → Cushing syndrome
- Primary pigmented nodular adrenal disease (Carney complex)
Cushing
sx, lab, path
- Symptoms: central obesity with thin extremities, moon facies, fat pad, thinning of skin → easy bruising and purple abdominal striae, osteoporosis, amenorrhea/hirsutism (women), proximal muscle weakness, immunosuppression, HTN, hypogonadism, decreased libido/impotence (men)
- Labs: low eosinophils (cortisol), possible hypokalemia, hyperglycemia (diabetes)
- Pathology: chronic high cortisol → pituitary cells accumulate cytokeratin filaments (hyaline material) → displacement of secretory granules to periphery (looks like rings)
Diagnosis of Cushing Syndrome:
what is the intial screenign tests
what happens if those are positive
what is IPS
- Initial screening: increased 24 hour urine free cortisol, increased late night salivary cortisol, inadequate suppression of cortisol following 1mg dexamethasone overnight
- If initial screening is positive, proceed to measure ACTH
- Low ACTH → ACTH independent Cushing → perform CT of adrenal gland
- High ACTH → ACTH dependent Cushing
- High dose dexamethasone suppression test: no suppression (ectopic) or adequate suppression (Cushing)
- CRH stimulation test: increased ACTH and cortisol (Cushing) or no increase in ACTH and cortisol (ectopic)
- Inferior petrosal sinus (IPS) sampling: recommended if MRI does not reveal pituitary adenoma
- MOA: simultaneously measure IPS and peripheral ACTH before and after CRH
- IPS ACTH:peripheral ACTH > 2 before CRH, and >3 after CRH → pituitary ACTH-secreting tumor
- Drainage of blood: anterior pituitary → cavernous sinuses → IPS → jugular vein
- MOA: simultaneously measure IPS and peripheral ACTH before and after CRH
Adrenal tumor-mediated hypertension
name 5 etiologies
explain each
- Cushing Syndrome
- Pheochromocytoma (functional chromaffin tumors from adrenal medulla → excess epi and norepi)
- Sx: episodic episodes of headaches, diaphoresis, and palpitations (classic triad)
- 5 P’s: pressure, pain, palpitations, pallor, and perspiration
- Etiology: germ line mutation (NF-1, VHL, RET)
- Epidemiology (rule of tens): 10% are malignant, bilateral, extra-adrenal, calcified, and in children
- Dx: increased serum metanepherines and increased 24 hour urine metanephrines and vanillylmandelic acid
- Tx: phenoxybenzamine
- Sx: episodic episodes of headaches, diaphoresis, and palpitations (classic triad)
- Primary hyperaldosteronism → excess aldosterone (zona glomerulosa)
- Etiology: aldosterone secreting adrenal adenoma (Conn syndrome) or bilateral adrenal hyperplasia
- Sx/signs: HTN, hypokalemia, hypernatremia, metabolic alkalosis
- Labs: high aldosterone, low renin (high aldo:renin ratio)
- Secondary hyperaldosteronism: high aldosterone, high renin (aldo:renin ratio < 10)
- Etiology: cirrhosis, heart failure, nephrotic syndrome, renovascular HTN, renin secreting tumor
- Low aldo and low renin: CAH, exogenous mineralocorticoids, Cushing, Liddle syndrome (mutation in sodium channel → Na reabsorption), 11 beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 deficiency (inactivation of cortisol to cortisone)
Describe the gross anatomy, blood supply, and innervation of the adrenal glands
- Gross anatomy: left adrenal gland is bigger than right adrenal gland
- Blood supply:
- Adrenal glands are supplied by inferior phrenic aa, superior adrenal aa, and middle adrenal aa.
- Adrenal glands are drained by inferior phrenic vv, and adrenal vv.
- Innervation:
- The adrenal medulla is the only case in which the organ is directly innervated by preganglionic neurons (allows for quick fight and flight response)
what are the layers of the adrenal gland
- Cortex (outer to inner): zona glomerulosa (G), fasiculata (F), reticularis (R),
- Medulla (M)
Discuss the synthesis and regulation of catecholamines in the chromaffin cell
- Synthesis of catecholamines in chromaffin cells:
- Tyrosine (via tyrosine hydroxylase) → DOPA → dopamine → enter chromaffin granule → norepinephrine → exits chromaffin granule → epinephrine via PNMT → enters chromaffin granule
- Regulation of catecholamines:
- Ach driven sympathetic innervation (triggered by stress) → catecholamine synthesis
- Cortisol maintains PNMT gene expression
Explain the action of catecholamines on different adrenergic receptors
- Catecholamine MOA: binds to GPCRs
- Norepinephrine: tends to be agonist for alpha receptors
- Epinephrine: tends to be agonist for beta receptors
- Catecholamine effect on receptors
- Alpha1 (Gq): vasoconstriction (systemic and to GI specifically)
- Alpha2 (Gi): glucagon release
- Beta1 (Gs): inotropic effect on heart
- Beta2 (Gs): vasodilation (muscles), bronchodilation, decreased insulin (pancreas), gluconeogenesis/glycogenolysis/ketogenesis (liver and muscles)
- Beta3 (Gs): lipolysis
CAH: 11-beta-hydroxylase deficiency
- Leads to a deficiency of cortisol and aldosterone and an increased production of testosterone
- Sx: virilization (testosterone), HTN/hypokalemia (increased 11-DOC)
21-hydroxylase deficiency
- Leads to deficiency of aldosterone and cortisol and increased testosterone
- Sx: virilization, salt wasting (salt is excreted w/o aldosterone)
CAH: 17-alpha-hydroxylase deficiency:
- Leads to deficiency of cortisol, testosterone, DHEAS (lack of secondary sexual characteristics) and increased production of aldosterone (high-normal levels due to negative feedback)
- Sx: HTN/hypokalemia (both due to increased 11-deoxycorticosterone), abnormal sexual development (infertility), dysmenorrhea
Describe the physiologic actions of cortisol, aldosterone, DHEAS,
- Cortisol
- Regulation: HPA axis (negative feedback), produced in paraventricular nucleus (follows circadian rhythm of release, highest right before waking up), released in response to stress/excitation
- Pathway: PVN releases CRH → anterior pituitary releases ACTH → cortisol is released by the adrenal glands (zona fasiculata)
- Effects: Acute/mins (mobilization of cholesterol and elevated pregnenolone), chronic, chronic/hrs (increased expression of genes for steroidogenic enzymes), trophic/months (hypertrophy of zona fasiculata/reticularis)
- DHEAS (bimodal elevations at birth and puberty)
- Pathway: ACTH → zona reticularis → DHEAS release
- No negative feedback on HPA axis, not associated with cortisol levels
- Pathway: ACTH → zona reticularis → DHEAS release
- Aldosterone
- Regulation: RAAS pathway (renin secreted by juxtaglomerular apparatus)
- Hyperkalemia → aldo increases, HTN → ANP increase → aldo decreases
- Effects: Na+ reabsorption, K+ excretion, pro-inflammatory effect on LV of heart
- Regulation: RAAS pathway (renin secreted by juxtaglomerular apparatus)
what is the action on insulin
and structure
- Actions of insulin:
- Activate: glucose uptake, glycolysis, glycogen synthesis, protein synthesis, uptake of ions
- Inhibit: gluconeogenesis, glycogenolysis, lipolysis, ketogenesis, and proteolysis
- Structure of pro-insulin from beta cells
- A-chain and B-chain make up pro-insulin (bound by disulfide bonds)
- C-peptide is cleaved from A-chain and B chain to activate insulin
- Due to long half-life, c-peptide can be used to determine amount of insulin
what is whipples triad
- Whipple’s triad: presence of symptoms (TIRED: Tachycardia, Irritability, Restlessness, Excessive hunger, Diaphoresis), documented low blood glucose, and eventual resolution of symptoms with raising blood sugar
Endogenous hyperinsulinemia
name some etiologies
- Endogenous hyperinsulinemia (i.e. insulinoma, nesidioblastosis/beta cell hyperplasia, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass)
- Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: due to excess GLP-1 secretion from bypassed duodenum
- Dx: fast patient to achieve low blood glucose → take labs (insulin, proinsulin, C-peptide, cortisol, free FA)
- Labs: look for decreased blood glucose and increased C-peptide (increased insulin:glucose ratio and increased proinsulin:insulin ratio)
- Tx: pancreatectomy (nesidoblastosis) or tumor resection (insulinoma)
how does AI lead to hypoglycemia
- Adrenal insufficiency: low cortisol → low blood glucose without hyperinsulinemia
what are non-endocrine causes of hypoglycemia
3 overarching ways
- Liver and renal disease
- Normal: These organs contain glucose-6-phosphatase → releases glucose into circulation (therefore decreased cell mass → hypoglycemia)
- Liver: ethanol shuts down gluconeogenesis → hypoglycemia
- Renal: disease → alters insulin clearance → hypoglycemia
- Tumor and malignancies
- Tumors → insulin growth factor (IGF) expressed → increased glucose uptake → hypoglycemia
- Dx: no detectable insulin levels (IGF ≠ insulin)
- Tumors → insulin growth factor (IGF) expressed → increased glucose uptake → hypoglycemia
- Antibodies/immunologic
- Etiology:
- Pathway 1: anti-insulin antibody binds to insulin → pancreas produces more insulin → antibodies release insulin → LOTS of insulin → hypoglycemia
- Pathway 2: anti-insulin receptor antibodies act as insulin agonist → acts as insulin → hypoglycemia
- Associated with: SLE, biliary cirrhosis, and myasthenia gravis
- Etiology:


