Secondary adrenal insufficiency laboratory findings
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
An elevated/reduced concentration of serum/blood/urinary/CSF/other [lab test] is diagnostic of [disease name].
OR
Laboratory findings consistent with the diagnosis of [disease name] include [abnormal test 1], [abnormal test 2], and [abnormal test 3].
OR
[Test] is usually normal among patients with [disease name].
OR
Some patients with [disease name] may have elevated/reduced concentration of [test], which is usually suggestive of [progression/complication].
OR
There are no diagnostic laboratory findings associated with [disease name].
Laboratory Findings
| Source of pathology | CRH | ACTH | DHEA | DHEA-S | cortisol | aldosterone | renin | Na | K | Causes5 |
| hypothalamus (tertiary)1 |
low | low | low | low | low3 | low | low | low | low | tumor of the hypothalamus (adenoma), antibodies, environment (i.e. toxins), head injury |
| pituitary (secondary) |
high2 | low | low | low | low3 | low | low | low | low | tumor of the pituitary (adenoma), antibodies, environment, head injury, surgical removal6, Sheehan's syndrome |
| adrenal glands (primary)7 |
high | high | high | high | low4 | low | high | low | high | tumor of the adrenal (adenoma), stress, antibodies, environment, Addison's Disease, trauma, surgical removal (resection), miliary tuberculosis of the adrenal |
| 1 | Automatically includes diagnosis of secondary (hypopituitarism) |
| 2 | Only if CRH production in the hypothalamus is intact |
| 3 | Value doubles or more in stimulation |
| 4 | Value less than doubles in stimulation |
| 5 | Most common, does not include all possible causes |
| 6 | Usually because of very large tumor (macroadenoma) |
| 7 | Includes Addison's disease |
Routine Investigations
- Complete blood count and differential count -
- Eosinophilia
- Lymphocytosis
- Normocytic anemia may be present.
- Serum ACTH levels - elevated in primary adrenal insufficiency and decreased in secondary form.
- Hypoglycemia[1][2][3]
- Serum electrolytes:
- Hyponatraemia - (low blood sodium levels)[4]
- Hyperkalemia- not present
- Mild hypercalcemia - in 20% patients
- Mild non–anion-gap metabolic acidosis
- Serum cortisol - decreased (<25mcg/dL)
- Urine and sweat sodium - elevated
- Azotemia- Elevated BUN and creatinine - when hypovolemia is the cause.
- Prolactin - mild elevation may be present.
| Hormone | Test | Procedure | Normal response |
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| Growth hormone | Insulin tolerance |
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| GHRH + arginine |
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| Glucagon | |||
| ACTH | Insulin tolerance |
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| Corticotropin standard dose (250 μg) |
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| Corticotropin low dose (1 μg) |
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| ADH | Water deprivation test |
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Diabetes insipidus (DI): Plasma osmolality >295 mOsm/L with inappropriately hypotonic urine (urine osmolality/plasma osmolality ratio <2) during the fluid deprivation confirms DI (test is discontinued)
Partial/primary polydipsia: With partial DI or primary polydipsia, urine concentrates partially during the water deprivation test (300–800 mOsm/kg), and further investigation is required including a prolonged water deprivation test or DDAVP therapeutic trial |
References
- ↑ Burke CW (1985). "Adrenocortical insufficiency". Clin Endocrinol Metab. 14 (4): 947–76. PMID 3002680.
- ↑ Todd GR, Acerini CL, Ross-Russell R, Zahra S, Warner JT, McCance D (2002). "Survey of adrenal crisis associated with inhaled corticosteroids in the United Kingdom". Arch. Dis. Child. 87 (6): 457–61. PMC 1755820. PMID 12456538.
- ↑ Stacpoole PW, Interlandi JW, Nicholson WE, Rabin D (1982). "Isolated ACTH deficiency: a heterogeneous disorder. Critical review and report of four new cases". Medicine (Baltimore). 61 (1): 13–24. PMID 6276646.
- ↑ Cuesta M, Garrahy A, Slattery D, Gupta S, Hannon AM, Forde H, McGurren K, Sherlock M, Tormey W, Thompson CJ (2016). "The contribution of undiagnosed adrenal insufficiency to euvolaemic hyponatraemia: results of a large prospective single-centre study". Clin. Endocrinol. (Oxf). 85 (6): 836–844. doi:10.1111/cen.13128. PMID 27271953.