Adrenal Crisis
common causes:
addison's disease
chronic steroid use
Waterhouse-Friedrichson syndrome (adrenal infarction due to DIC)
Pituitary apoplexy (pit infarction esp post partum, DIC)
Oncology - checkpoint inhib immunotherapy
Look for precipitants: -infection, trauma, pregnancy, reduced steroid use. Initiation of carbamazepine, etomidate, phenytoin etc
presentation:
Vasodilatory shock esp refractory to fluid
N,V, abdo pain, fever, delirium
Investigations:
low Na+, high K+, low Glu
**NB - It is a Dx of exclusion. Rapid response to steroid is supportive of Dx
Management:
look for triggers and treat
hydrocortisone esp if known adrenal insufficiency
dexamethasone - ??? esp if not known insufficiency - check
supportive