Addison's Disease
Private MD Labs offers the following panel to help diagnose Addison's Disease:
Includes:
Complete Blood Count / CBC (includes Differential and Platelets) 
- Absolute Promyelocytes
- White Blood Cell Count
- Red Blood Cell Count
- Hemoglobin
- Hematocrit
- MCV
- MCH
- MCHC
- RDW
- Platelet Count
- MPV
- Absolute Neutrophils
- Absolute Metamyelocytes
- Absolute Myelocytes
- Absolute Lymphocytes
- Absolute Monocytes
- Absolute Eosinophils
- Absolute Basophils
- Absolute Blasts
- Absolute Nucleated Rbc
- Neutrophils
- Metamyelocytes
- Myelocytes
- Promyelocytes
- Lymphocytes
- Reactive Lymphocytes
- Monocytes
- Eosinophils
- Basophils
- Blasts
- Nucleated RBC
- White Blood Cells
- Red Blood Cells
- Segmented Neutrophils
- Metamyelocyte
- Myelocyte
- Promyelocyte
- Nucleated RBCs
- Smudge Cells
Urinalysis, Complete Profile
- RBC
- Squamous Epithelial Cells
- Transitional Epithelial Cells
- Renal Epithelial Cells
- Bacteria
- Calcium Oxalate Crystals
- Occult Blood
- Nitrite
- Leukocyte Esterase
- WBC
- Protein
- Ketones
- Bilirubin
- Glucose
- pH
- Specific Gravity
- Appearance
- Color
- Crystals
- Amorphous Sediment
- Uric Acid Crystals
- Yeast
- Casts
- Granular Cast
- Hyaline Cast
- Triple Phosphate Crystals
Comprehensive Metabolic Profile (includes eGFR)
- Chloride
- Potassium
- Sodium
- Bun/Creatinine Ratio
- ALT
- AST
- Alkaline Phosphatase
- Bilirubin, Total
- Albumin/Globulin Ratio
- Globulin
- Albumin
- Protein, Total
- Calcium
- Carbon Dioxide
- Creatinine
- Urea Nitrogen (Bun)
- Glucose
- eGFR
Adrenal Antibody Screen with Reflex to Titer
- Adrenal Ab, Titer
- Adrenal Ab
Acth, Plasma
Cortisol, Total
Magnesium
Uric Acid
Preparation
Fasting: 12 hours
Test details
HSA/FSA: reimbursable
Results: first results available starting the next day, complete results in 10 business days
Includes:
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH), Plasma;
Antiadrenal Antibodies, Quantitative;
Uric Acid, serum;
Magnesium, serum;
Cortisol, serum;
Urinalysis: Color, appearance, specific gravity, pH, protein, glucose, occult blood, ketones, leukocyte esterase, nitrite, bilirubin, urobilinogen, and microscopic examination of urine sediment;
CBC With Differential/Platelet: Hematocrit; hemoglobin; mean corpuscular volume (MCV); mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH); mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC); red cell distribution width (RDW); percentage and absolute differential counts; platelet count; red cell count; white blood cell count.
Comprehensive Metabolic Profile (CMP) (includes eGFR): A:G ratio; albumin, serum; alkaline phosphatase, serum; ALT (SGPT); AST (SGOT); bilirubin, total; BUN; BUN:creatinine ratio; calcium, serum; carbon dioxide, total; chloride, serum; creatinine, serum; globulin, total; glucose, serum; potassium, serum; protein, total, serum; sodium, serum; eGFR.
What is Addison's disease?
Addison's disease occurs when the adrenal glands (located above each kidney) do not work normally and do not produce enough hormones. Addison's disease may also be called chronic adrenal insufficiency or hypocortisolism.
How does it occur?
The adrenal glands, located near the top of each kidney, produce several types of hormones, including corticosteroids. These hormones affect a number of body functions, including blood pressure, the levels of minerals such as sodium and potassium in the body, defenses against infection and stress, and sugar levels in the blood.
The adrenal glands may stop producing enough hormones when they are damaged by infection, an autoimmune response, or cancer. This may also happen if you have been taking corticosteroid medicine on a regular basis and then stop taking it suddenly. Sometimes the adrenal glands stop working if the pituitary gland stops working normally.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of Addison's disease may start slowly. They include:
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Dizziness when you stand up after sitting or lying down
- Muscle aches
- Nausea, sometimes with vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Patches of darkened skin or unexplained "tanning."
You may not notice your symptoms until your body is stressed by an infection, injury, or surgery. The stress may cause an Addisonian crisis. Without treatment, an Addisonian crisis can be fatal. Signs and symptoms of Addisonian crisis are:
- Sharp pain in the lower back, abdomen, or legs
- Loss of too much fluid from your body (dehydration)
- Low blood pressure
- Loss of consciousness.
How is it diagnosed?
Your health care provider will ask about your symptoms and medical history and examine you. You may
have the following tests:
Blood tests to measure:
- Growth hormone levels or insulin growth factor 1 (IGF-1)
- Fasting blood glucose levels or glucose tolerance test
- Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
- Antiadrenal antibodies
- Uric acid, serum
- Magnesium, serum
- Potassium, serum
- Sodium, serum
- Calcium, serum
- Chloride, serum
- Cortisol, serum
- Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) sulfate, serum
- Eosinophil count
Urine tests to measure:
- 17-ketogenic steroids
- Potassium, urine
- Sodium, urine
- 17-Hydroxycorticosteroids
ACTH stimulation test (a test that checks the response of your adrenal glands to a pituitary gland hormone)
CT scan of the adrenal glands or pituitary gland.
Private MD Labs offers the following panel to help diagnose Addison's Disease:
How is it treated?
Addison's disease is treated with replacement hormones. Your health care provider will prescribe a corticosteroid such as prednisone. You will need to take prednisone the rest of your life.
If the disease has affected the level of minerals in your body, your health care provider may also prescribe fludrocortisone. This medicine will help your body return to a normal balance of the minerals sodium and potassium. You may be able to stop taking fludrocortisone after a while.
How long do the effects last?
Addison's disease is a lifelong condition. With proper treatment, crises may be avoided and you will be able to lead a normal life.
How can I take care of myself?
- Treat minor illnesses with extra salt and fluids. It is very important to avoid becoming dehydrated.
- Carry a cortisol injection kit for emergencies. You might need an emergency shot of cortisol in situations where your body is stressed and needs stress hormones to help it respond properly--for example, if you are in an accident. Get a Medic Alert bracelet that says, "Addison's disease: takes cortisone daily." Wear it at all times in case of accidents. It alerts health care workers to your need for careful monitoring and extra cortisol.
- Ask your health care provider what shots you need to help prevent infections.
- Keep your regular follow-up appointments with your provider.
- Call your health care provider right away if you have fever, vomiting, or diarrhea that lasts more than a couple of days. You may need treatment in an emergency room with IV fluids and hydrocortisone.
- See your provider right away if you have any signs of infection, such as strep throat or bladder infections.
How can I help prevent Addison's disease?
There is no way to prevent Addison's disease.
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