ECE2024 Eposter Presentations Adrenal and Cardiovascular Endocrinology (155 abstracts)
Incidence and features of adrenal crisis in patients with Addison’s Disease
Alberto Scala 1 , Marianna Torchio 1 , Fabio Presotto 2 , Caterina Mian 1 , Filippo Ceccato 1 , Scaroni Carla 1 , Corrado Betterle 1 & Chiara Sabbadin 1
1University Hospital of Padua, Endocrine Unit, Padua, Italy; 2Ospedale Dell’Angelo, Unit of Internal Medicine, Mestre-Venice, Italy
Introduction: Adrenal crisis (AC) is the most severe manifestation of adrenal insufficiency, still responsible for a high mortality of affected patients, especially with primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI). Its presentation is insidious, leading to a delayed diagnosis and treatment. Patient education is crucial in the prevention and self-management of AC.
Aim of the study: We want to evaluate the incidence, features (symptoms, signs, laboratory findings), precipitating and predisposing factors of AC.
Methods: A total of 132 patients with PAI were enrolled. Patients’ characteristics and information on their previous AC were collected through a questionnaire and clinical documentation, supplied by patients or retrieved from archives of the Hospitals of Padova and Venice-Mestre.
Results: Among our patients, the most frequent cause of PAI was autoimmune adrenalitis (92.4%), mainly associated with other autoimmune comorbidities. The 65.9% of patients experienced at least one AC, with an incidence of 10.5/100 patient-years. In 55% of cases, AC occurred after the diagnosis of PAI. The most frequent symptoms and signs of AC were fatigue (96%), gastrointestinal disorders (39-85%), hypotension (57%), and hyperpigmentation (57%). Hyponatremia and hyperkalemia were found respectively in 77% and 32% of cases of AC. The most frequent trigger factors were vomiting and diarrhea (65%), infections (38%) and emotional stress (29%). Patients with a high number of autoimmune comorbidities and those with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) had a significantly higher risk of AC (P <0.02).
Conclusions: AC is still a frequent complication of patients with PAI, especially when affected with other autoimmune comorbidities or with POI. AC awareness among clinicians, patients, and their care-givers is critical to prevent, recognise and adequately treat this life-threatening complication.
Article tools
My recent searches
My recently viewed abstracts
Authors
Endocrine Abstracts
ISSN 1470-3947 (print) | ISSN 1479-6848 (online)
© Bioscientifica 2024 |
Privacy policy |
Cookie settings
BiosciAbstracts
Bioscientifica Abstracts is the gateway to a series of products that provide a permanent, citable record of abstracts for biomedical and life science conferences.
Find out more