The clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of adrenal emergencies

Veronica Tucci; Telematé Sokari

doi:10.1016/j.emc.2014.01.006

The clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of adrenal emergencies

Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2014 May;32(2):465-84. doi: 10.1016/j.emc.2014.01.006.

Authors

Veronica Tucci¹, Telematé Sokari²

Affiliations

¹ Section of Emergency Medicine, Emergency Center, Ben Taub General Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, 1504 Taub Loop, Houston, TX 77030, USA. Electronic address: vtuccimd@gmail.com.
² Section of Emergency Medicine, Emergency Center, Ben Taub General Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, 1504 Taub Loop, Houston, TX 77030, USA.

PMID: 24766944
DOI: 10.1016/j.emc.2014.01.006

Abstract

Emergency medicine physicians should be able to identify and treat patients whose clinical presentations, including key historical, physical examination, and laboratory findings are consistent with diagnoses of primary, secondary, and tertiary adrenal insufficiency, adrenal crisis, and pheochromocytoma. Failure to make a timely diagnosis leads to increased morbidity and mortality. As great mimickers, adrenal emergencies often present with a constellation of nonspecific signs and symptoms that can lead even the most diligent emergency physician astray. The emergency physician must include adrenal emergencies in the differential diagnosis when encountering such clinical pictures.

Keywords: Adrenal crisis; Adrenal emergencies; Pheochromocytomas; Primary adrenal insufficiency (Addison disease); Secondary adrenal insufficiency; Tertiary adrenal insufficiency.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Adrenal Insufficiency* / diagnosis
Adrenal Insufficiency* / metabolism
Adrenal Insufficiency* / therapy
Disease Management*
Emergencies*
Emergency Service, Hospital*
Humans