Addison Disease Treatment & Management

  • Author: Elizabeth A Liotta, MD; Chief Editor: Dirk M Elston, MD   more...
 
Updated: Jun 7, 2010
 

Medical Care

Promptly treat patients in whom acute adrenal insufficiency is suspected; follow up with a workup for adrenal insufficiency. In Addison disease, the adequate replacement of glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids is the primary goal. Studies show that dehydroepiandrosterone therapy improves the patient's quality of life.[10, 11]

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Consultations

The need for consultation depends on the cause of the adrenal insufficiency and may involve the following specialists:

  • Endocrinologist
  • Rheumatologist
  • Infectious diseases specialist
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Diet

Advise patients not to restrict salt in their diets. In patients with concurrent primary hypertension, salt intake may be restricted instead of discontinuing mineralocorticoid replacement. Advise patients who live in warm climates to increase their salt intake because of their increased loss of salt as a result of sweating.

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Activity

No restrictions on activity are required; however, inform patients about salt loss during vigorous exercise.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Elizabeth A Liotta, MD  Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Elizabeth A Liotta, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Dirk M Elston, MD  Director, Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Medical Center

Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Alexander Brough, MD  Consulting Surgeon, Department of Dermatology, Sewell's Point Clinic

Alexander Brough, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Robin Travers, MD  Assistant Professor of Medicine (Dermatology), Dartmouth University School of Medicine; Staff Dermatologist, New England Baptist Hospital; Private Practice, SkinCare Physicians

Robin Travers, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Informatics Association, Massachusetts Medical Society, Medical Dermatology Society, and Women's Dermatologic Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Michael J Wells, MD  Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

Michael J Wells, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, and Texas Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Jeffrey P Callen, MD  Professor of Medicine (Dermatology), Chief, Division of Dermatology, University of Louisville School of Medicine

Jeffrey P Callen, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Physicians, and American College of Rheumatology

Disclosure: Amgen Honoraria Consulting; Abbott Honoraria Consulting; Electrical Optical Sciences Honoraria Consulting; Centocor Honoraria Consulting; Medicis Honoraria Consulting; Celgene Honoraria Consulting

Glen H Crawford, MD  Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Chief, Division of Dermatology, The Pennsylvania Hospital

Glen H Crawford, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society of USAF Flight Surgeons

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD  Director, Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Medical Center

Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References

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Hyperpigmented scar on diffusely hyperpigmented (tanned) skin. Courtesy of Dirk M. Elston, MD.
Hyperpigmented scars from ear piercing. Courtesy of Dirk M. Elston, MD.
Pigmented patches of mucous membrane and pigmented longitudinal nail bands. Courtesy of Dirk M. Elston, MD.
Hyperpigmented gingival patches. Courtesy of Dirk M. Elston, MD.
 
 
 
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