Addison's disease

Addison’s disease (also chronic adrenal insufficiency, hypocortisolism, and hypoadrenalism) is a rare, chronic endocrine disorder in which the adrenal glands do not produce sufficient steroid hormones (glucocorticoids and often mineralocorticoids). It is characterised by a number of relatively nonspecific symptoms, such as abdominal pain and weakness, but under certain circumstances these may progress to Addisonian crisis, a severe illness in which there may be very low blood pressure and coma. The condition arises from problems with the adrenal gland itself, a state referred to as "primary adrenal insufficiency" and can be caused by damage by the body's own immune system, certain infections or various rarer causes. Addison's disease is...