Question

Individuals with Addison’s disease complain of muscle weakness and weight loss. Addison’s disease is characterized as a deficiency of both glucocorticoids and mineralcorticoids. Molecularly explain the symptoms experienced above as well as the existence of hypoglycemia, hypotension, and hyperpigmentation in individuals with Addison’s disease.

Answer 1

Addission's disease the most common term freffered as a primery adrenal insufficiency which can occurs when adrenal glands are damaged and can not produce enough adrenal hormone cortisol and aldosterone secreat by adrenal gland. It is caused by an auto immune response which control the function of tissues or organs.

Cortisol: It helps to maintain blood pressure, cardiac function and blood glucose levels.

Aldosterone affects the blood volume and blood pressure, waste materials removes through urine.

Physiology:

Both the cortisol and aldosterone hormone regulate blood pressure and stress in body. In addison's disease adrenal gland produce less cortisol and aldosterone. A deficiency in cortisol homone increase stress in body this leadss to low blood pressure. The pituitary sees that drop in cortisol levels and responds by making more ACTH and it can make more pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) and the person can make more beta endorphin and melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH), so the patient with addision disease can shows hyperpigmentation. On the other case aldosterone hormone can maintain blood pressure through balance of sodium and potassium ions in blood. When aldosterone production deficient body looses too much sodium retain too much potassium. The decrease of sodium in the blood lead to drop in blood volume (amount of fluid in blood) and blood pressure. Lack of sodium leads to dehydration,low bp and loss of blood volume tends to hypovolemic shock. So the Addison's disease the person faces hypoglycemia, hypotension and low blood pressure. During some times an Addison's disease patient blood pressure may reach to such low levels that the oxygen demand of the organs will not be fulfilled and lead to severe organ dysfunction and sometime may lead to death.

Symtoms: Abdominal pain, depression,dehydration ,diarrhea, nausea, low blood pressure, vomiting, muscle weakness and loss of appetite.

Treatment: It involves taking a corticosteroid such as hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone.These medications are usually taken by the mouth.lifelong the medication should be taken. Regular follow up should be done for a disease control.