In this article, we will discuss the Etiology of Adrenal Crisis/Acute Adrenal Insufficiency. So, let’s get started.
Etiology
Adrenal Causes
- Sudden precipitation of Addison’s disease of adrenal origin
- Bilateral adrenal hemorrhage (anticoagulant therapy or coagulation/bleeding disorders)
- Bilateral adrenal thrombosis, e.g. antiphospholipid syndrome
- Adrenal necrosis due to sepsis or septicemia (Water-house-Friderichsen syndrome)
Pituitary Causes
- Postpartum pituitary necrosis (Sheehan’s syndrome)
- Necrosis or bleeding into pituitary microadenoma
- Head trauma
- Lesions of pituitary stalk
- Pituitary or adrenal surgery for Cushing’s syndrome