Does anyone know anything about Addisons disease?

Question

My vet is not completely sure what is wrong with my Siberian Husky, but she has mentioned Addisons disease. She has ran alot of blood tests and they came back showing low calcium and high potassium. She gave me calcium tablets and antibiotics. She also gave him a shot of steroids. She said that if he "crashes" again like what he did that caused me to take him in, then it is highly possible that he has Addisons disease. I am not quite sure I understood what this disease is. Anyone had experience with it?

Answer 1

Addison's disease (also known as chronic adrenal insufficiency, or hypocortisolism) is a rare endocrine disorder which results in the body not producing sufficient amounts of certain adrenal hormones. The condition was first described by British physician Thomas Addison in his 1855 publication: On the Constitutional and Local Effects of Disease of the Suprarenal Capsules. Those who have Addison's are often referred to in research and informational articles as "Addisonians."

Characteristics
Addison's disease refers specifically to primary adrenal insufficiency, in which the adrenal glands themselves malfunction; secondary adrenal insufficiency occurs when the anterior pituitary gland does not produce enough adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) to adequately stimulate the adrenal glands.

Cause
Addison's Disease is caused by the failure of the adrenal glands, seated above the kidneys, to produce enough of the hormone cortisol and, in some cases, the hormone aldosterone.

Signs and symptoms
Addison's disease usually develops slowly (over several months), and symptoms may not present or be noticed until some stressful illness or situation occurs. Common symptoms are:

Chronic fatigue that gradually worsens
Muscle weakness
Weight loss and Loss of appetite
Nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting
Low blood pressure that falls further when standing (orthostatic hypotension)
Areas of hyperpigmentation (darkened skin), known as melasma suprarenale.
Irritability
Depression
Craving for salt and salty foods
Hypoglycemia, low blood sugar (worse in children)
For women, menstrual periods that become irregular or cease
Tetany (particularly after drinking milk) due to phosphate excess
Numbness of the extremities, sometimes with paralysis, due to potassium excess
Increased number of eosinophils
Polyuria

Addisonian crisis
In some cases, Addison's symptoms may present rapidly. This "acute adrenal failure" is known as an Addisonian crisis and is a severe medical emergency. An illness or accident can aggravate the adrenal problems causing the Addisonian crisis (most common in untreated sufferers), although the most common cause (for those already diagnosed) is abrupt discontinuation of corticosteroid therapy without tapering the dose.

Symptoms that may occur include:

Sudden penetrating pain in the legs, lower back or abdomen
Severe vomiting and diarrhea, resulting in dehydration
Low blood pressure
Loss of consciousness
Hypoglycemia
Brown coating on tongue and teeth due to iron loss (hemolysis)

Frequency
The frequency rate of Addison's disease in the human population is usually estimated at roughly 1 in 100,000. Some research and information sites put the number closer to 40-60 cases per 1 million population. (1/25,000-1/16,600) (Determining accurate numbers for Addison's is problematic at best and some incidence figures are thought to be underestimates.
Addison's can afflict persons of any age, gender, or ethnicity, but typically presents in adults between 30 and 50 years of age. Women are slightly more likely to develop Addison's according to some studies. Research has shown no significant predispositions based on ethnicity.

Heredity
Addison's Disease is generally not believed to be passed on in humans through genetics. Some research has shown that canine Addison's may have a genetic component. Further, some of the initial causes of Addison's may have genetic components that contribute to, but cannot be considered the sole cause of, Addison's Disease.

Medical procedures
Tha Mayo Clinic urges one to seek medical advice for potential Addison's Disease "If you have severe fatigue, have unintentionally lost weight, feel progressively weaker, experience abdominal pain, have fainting spells and your skin has become darker, see your doctor to determine whether Addison's disease or some other medical condition may be the cause."

Diagnosis
In suspected cases of Addison's disease, one needs to demonstrate that adrenal hormone levels are low after appropriate stimulation with synthetic pituitary hormone.

Once demonstrated, the cause of adrenal failure needs to be elucidated. The most common cause is autoimmune, and can be tested for with an assay for 21-hydroxylase antibodies. If there are no antibodies present, infectious or genetic causes should be sought. This may include imaging of the adrenal glands, tests for tuberculosis or HIV infection, and searching for metastatic cancer.

Primary adrenal insufficiancy
Also known as: Primary Addison's Disease. Primary Addison's Disease is caused by damaged adrenal glands where the damage causes the insufficient production of the above-mentioned hormones. Most often the damage is caused by autoimmune disease, where the body creates antibodies that attack the glands (as if it were a disease) in the same way the immune system fights infection. Other causes of failure of the adrenal glands may include the following:

Tuberculosis
Infections of the adrenal glands
Spread of cancer to the adrenal glands
Bleeding into the adrenal glands

Secondary adrenal insufficiancy
Also known as: Secondary Addison's Disease. Often caused by a diseased pituitary gland or when a person on corticosteroid medications for chronic conditions (e.g. arthritis, asthma) abruptly cease taking the medicines. Secondary Addison's Disease is characterized by inadequate production of the pituitary hormone called adrenocorticotropic hormone, ACTH. ACTH triggers production of adrenal hormones and a shortage of ACTH can cause a shortage of the adrenal hormones, even though the adrenal glands themselves are not damaged.


Etiology
Eighty to ninety percent of cases of Addison's disease are said to be due to autoantibodies directed against adrenal cells containing 21-hydroxylase, an enzyme involved in the production of cortisol and aldosterone.

The remainder of cases are due to tuberculosis, HIV, sarcoidosis, amyloidosis, hemochromatosis, metastatic cancer to the adrenal glands, adrenal haemorrhage, Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome (massive, usually bilateral, hemorrhage into the adrenal glands caused by fulminant meningococcemia,) and congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

Addison's disease can be an expression of an autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome when autoimmune reactions against other organs are also present. In APS type 1, 70% suffer from Addison's disease, while in type 2, 100% do (by definition).

Through these syndromes, Addison's is associated with hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus (type 1), vitiligo, alopecia and celiac disease.


Treatment
Treatment for Addison's disease involves replacing the missing cortisol and, if necessary, fludrocortisone as replacement for the missing aldosterone. Caution must be exercised when the person with Addison's disease has surgery or becomes pregnant. Treatment for an acute attack - an Addisonian Crisis - usually involves intravenous (into blood veins) injections of:

Hydrocortisone
Saline solution (basically a salt water, same clear IV bag as used to treat dehydration)
Dextrose (a type of sugar)
Hydrocortisone must usually be continued for life. Medication may need to be increased during times of stress, infection, or injury.


Prognosis
While treatment solutions for Addison's Disease are far from precise, overall long-term prognosis is typically good. Because of individual physiological differences, each person with Addison's must work closely with their physician to adjust their medication dosage and schedule to find the most effective routine. Once this is accomplished (and occasional adjustments must be made from time to time, especially during periods of travel, stress, or other medical conditions), symptomology is usually greatly reduced or occasionally eliminated so long as the person continues their dosage schedule accurately.
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Good luck.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

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Answer 4

Is Addison Disease Hereditary

Answer 5

Addison's Disease is also known as hypoadrenocorticism. The adrenal glands are located superior to the kidneys and produce the hormone cortisone. When this is disrupted, in this case they don't produce enough of the hormone, calcium and potassium levels go crazy. High potassium levels can lead to heart arrythmias, when in turn can lead to death. The first signs are typically vomiting and lethargy. The symptoms can blood work can at first mimic renal (kidney) failure, so repeat testing may be necessary. Dogs may need to be rehydrated with IV fluids due to the vomiting, and frequently need steroids, like prednisone, to maintain normal hydrocortisone levels in the blood. Any symptoms of illness in a dog with presumed Addison's need to be treated immediately, as they can rapidly progress and be fatal. Careful monitoring by a vet is critical.

Answer 6

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Does anyone know anything about Addisons disease?
My vet is not completely sure what is wrong with my Siberian Husky, but she has mentioned Addisons disease. She has ran alot of blood tests and they came back showing low calcium and high potassium. She gave me calcium tablets and antibiotics. She also gave him a shot of steroids. She said that...

Answer 7

Here's some more info on Addison's.

http://www.petwellness.com/health_topics/en/dog_addisons.shtml

And a support group for Addison's dogs, with more information about the disease, tests that can be done (talk with your vet about the ACTH test), and medications:

http://www.addisondogs.com/addisons/whatis.html

Answer 8

Be careful with the steroids. This could damage the liver. And cause other problems. Have they checked thyroid level? My dog was on thyroid meds for years,she had been on alot of steroids too. . She developed cushing disease, which affected her pituitary gland causing a tumor to grow. she did have a great life, she lived for 13 yrs.

Answer 9

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Many people with hypothyroidism experience crippling fatigue and brain fog, which prompts reaching for non-nutritional forms of energy like sugar and caffeine. I’ve dubbed these rascals the terrible twosome, as they can burn out your thyroid (and destabilize blood sugar).

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Answer 10

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