Addison's disease (chronic adrenal insufficiency, or hypocortisolism)

The adrenal gland on each kidney consists of two regions, the medulla and the cortex. The cortex forms the corticosteroid hormones and is the affected tissue in Addison's disease. Destruction of the adrenal cortex and consequent low hormone production can result from many causes but in about 70% of patients with Addison's disease, the cause is an autoimmune attack on the cells of the cortex.  This autoimmunity disease results in a deficiency of adrenocortico hormones when 90% of the cells of the cortex have been destroyed. The disease affects both sexes.  Acute renal failure can occur. Previously, a major cause of Addison's disease was tuberculosis.

For further information, click here

Hyperpigmentation of buccal mucosa in Addison's disease © Bristol Biomedical Image Archive. Used with permission