Endocrine Abstracts

Autoimmune hypoadrenalism (Addison’s disease) is a relatively rare condition; recent research has found the European prevalence to be up to 140 per million [Lovas & Husebye 2002]. It frequently occurs in association with other organ-specific autoimmune diseases, both endocrine and non-endocrine. Previous studies identified a considerable range in the prevalence of associated conditions and, because of the rarity of the disease, were often drawn from relatively small s...

Bone loss in treated Addison’s disease (autoimmune hypoadrenalism) is often attributed to supraphysiological doses of glucocorticoid. The largest international survey to date (N=613) suggests that other factors are also likely to be associated with bone loss in these patients and that an intrinsic risk of bone loss in autoimmune hypoadrenalism cannot be ruled out. This survey also found significant rates of osteoarthritis among autoimmune hypoadrenalism patients. 1...

Addison’s disease is notoriously difficult to diagnose and has been labelled ‘the master of unforgiving disguise’. In the largest international survey of autoimmune Addison’s disease to date (N=613), we asked patients to recall their symptoms at diagnosis. The results confirm the challenges of diagnosis, in that no patients recalled all the standard symptoms.Hyperpigmentation with dizziness on standing/blackouts and weight loss...