Endocrinology & Metabolic Syndrome
Open Access

Abstract

Adrenal Dysfunction

Phyllis W Speiser

Adrenal cortical disease, especially adrenal insufficiency, is more common than adrenal medullary disease and often goes unrecognized for extended periods. Physicians should consider the diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency in any patient with non-specific unexplained signs or symptoms including hypoglycemia, growth failure, weight loss, vomiting, or lethargy. The clinical features may be mistaken for, and should be differentiated from, infection, malnutrition, and gastrointestinal disease, inborn errors of metabolism, anorexia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and depression.