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{{Adrenal atrophy}}
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==Overview==
==Overview==
The adrenal glands produce hormones that help regulate your metabolism, immune system, blood pressure, response to stress and other essential functions. Adrenal atrophy may be caused by a loss of ACTH and trophic support of the adrenal cortex or direct damage to the tissue due to exogenous [[corticosteroid]] overuse or an endocrine disease, affecting the glands.
==Pathophysiology==
==Pathophysiology==


[[Image:adrenalatrophy123456.jpg|left|thumbnail|Adrenal Atrophy; source: U.S. National Toxicology Program - available at:https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/nnl/endocrine/adrenal/cxzatrophy/index.htm]]
===Physiology===
The normal physiology of adrenal atrophy can be understood as follows:
 
Adrenal glands produce hormones that help regulate your metabolism, immune system, blood pressure, response to stress and other essential functions. The glands are composed of two parts:
 
*The adrenal cortex is the outer region and also the largest part of an adrenal gland. It is divided into three separate zones: [[zona glomerulosa]], [[zona fasciculata]] and [[zona reticularis]]. Each zone is responsible for producing specific hormones.
*The adrenal medulla is located inside the adrenal cortex in the center of an adrenal gland. It produces “stress hormones,” including [[epinephrine]].
 


===Primary adrenal insufficiency===
[[image:Adrenal Physiology.jpg|600px|center|thumb|Adrenal Glands - available at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1818_The_Adrenal_Glands.jpg OpenStax College, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons]]


Primary adrenal insufficiency, which can be acute or chronic, may be caused by the anatomic destruction of the gland. This destruction can have various causes, including [[tuberculosis]] (TB) or fungal infection, other diseases infiltrating the adrenal glands, and hemorrhage. However, the most frequent cause is idiopathic atrophy, which is probably autoimmune in origin.
===Pathogenesis===
The exact pathogenesis of adrenal atrophy is not fully understood. However, it is thought that adrenal atrophy is caused by direct insult or the lack of stimulation of the gland. As a result, the disease can be categorized as primary or secondary.
*Primary Adrenal Atrophy: The primary atrophy is due to direct insult to the adrenal tissue due to:
**Infections ([[TB]], [[CMV]], [[histoplasmosis]], [[paracoccidioidomycosis]])
**Vascular impairments (hemorrhage from [[sepsis]], adrenal vein thrombosis, [[HIT]])
**Deposition disease ([[hemochromatosis]], [[amyloidosis]], [[sarcoidosis]])
**Drugs ([[azole]] anti-fungals, [[etomidate]] (even one dose), [[rifampin]], [[anticonvulsants]])
**Cytotoxic agents such as mitotane.
*Secondary Adrenal Atrophy
The secondary atrophy is mainly due to the loss of ACTH and trophic support of the adrenal cortex, and this may result in deficits in functional capability of the cortex to produce [[glucocorticoids]]. This situation occurs in patients who are on prolonged glucocorticoid therapy, which leads to prolonged inhibition of endogenous pituitary ACTH secretion. Removal of the therapy often results in adrenocortical incompetence.
Adrenal atrophy may caused by inhibition of pituitary ACTH or hypothalamic function. Compounds such as [[valproic acid]], [[bromocriptine]], [[cyproheptadine]], ketanserin, ritanserin, [[somatostatin]] analogs, glucocorticoids, 4′-thio-beta-d-arabinofuranosylcytosine, and hexachlorobenzene have been noted previously to impair hypothalamo-pituitary function through deficits in ACTH or CRH in various species.


Primary adrenal insufficiency also may be caused by metabolic failure (eg, insufficient hormone production). This failure may be a result of congenital adrenal hyperplasia, enzyme inhibitors (e.g., [[metyrapone]]), or cytotoxic agents (e.g., [[mitotane]]).
==Genetics==


Primary adrenocortical insufficiency is rare and it occurs at any age. The male-to-female ratio is 1:1.
The development of adrenal atrophy is the result of multiple genetic and environmental factors, as discussed above. However, the [[congenital adrenal hyperplasia]], a form of adrenal hypotrophy is known as a result of the mutation on the following genes:
*An X-linked gene, NROB1, encoding DAX-1 protein
*The steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1) gene, encoded on the 9q33 loci
The autosomal recessive ACTH resistance syndromes such as [[triple-A syndrome]] and familial glucocorticoid deficiency, are among other genetics disorders yielding to adrenal atrophy.<ref name="pmid31747186">{{cite journal |vauthors=Saleem F, Baradhi KM |title= |journal= |volume= |issue= |pages= |date= |pmid=31747186 |doi= |url=}}</ref><ref name="pmid16597550">{{cite journal |vauthors=Colagiovanni DB, Drolet DW, Dihel L, Meyer DJ, Hart K, Wolf J |title=Safety assessment of 4'-thio-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine in the beagle dog suggests a drug-induced centrally mediated effect on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis |journal=Int J Toxicol |volume=25 |issue=2 |pages=119–26 |date=2006 |pmid=16597550 |doi=10.1080/10915810600605898 |url=}}</ref><ref name="isbn978-0080468686">{{cite book | last = McQueen | first = Charlene | title = Comprehensive toxicology | publisher = Elsevier | location = Oxford | year = 2010 | isbn = 978-0080468686 }} </ref>


===Secondary adrenal insufficiency===
==Gross pathology==


Secondary adrenal insufficiency may be caused by [[hypopituitarism]] due to hypothalamic-pituitary disease, or it may result from suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis by exogenous steroids or endogenous steroids (i.e., [[tumor]]).
On gross pathology we expect shrunken adrenal gland.


Secondary adrenocortical insufficiency is relatively common. Extensive therapeutic use of steroids has greatly contributed to increased incidence.
[[image:Adrenal glands.jpg|600px|center|thumb]]


===Acute adrenocortical insufficiency===
==Microscopic pathology==


Adrenal crisis may result from an acute exacerbation of chronic insufficiency, usually caused by sepsis or surgical stress. Acute adrenal insufficiency also can be caused by adrenal hemorrhage (e.g., usually septicemia-induced [[Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome]] - [[fulminant meningococcemia]]) and anticoagulation complications.
On microscopic histopathological analysis


[[Steroid]] withdrawal is the most common cause of acute adrenocortical insufficiency, and it almost exclusively causes a glucocorticoid deficiency.
[[Image:adrenalatrophy123456.jpg|center|thumbnail|Adrenal Atrophy; source: U.S. National Toxicology Program - available at: https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/nnl/endocrine/adrenal/cxzatrophy/index.htm]]
<div align="center">
[[image:Adrenal glands normal histology.jpg|400px|center|Image courtesy: PathologyOutlines.com]]
<gallery heights="175" widths="175">
Image:Adrenal atrophy 1.JPG|Adrenal atrophy [http://www.gfmer.ch/000_Homepage_En.htm Image courtesy of Geneva Foundation for Medical Education and Research]
Image:Adrenal atrophy 2.JPG|Adrenal atrophy [http://www.gfmer.ch/000_Homepage_En.htm Image courtesy of Geneva Foundation for Medical Education and Research]
Image:Adrenal atrophy 3.JPG|Adrenal atrophy [http://www.gfmer.ch/000_Homepage_En.htm Image courtesy of Geneva Foundation for Medical Education and Research]
Image:Adrenal atrophy 4.JPG|Adrenal atrophy [http://www.gfmer.ch/000_Homepage_En.htm Image courtesy of Geneva Foundation for Medical Education and Research]
Image:Adrenal atrophy 5.JPG|Adrenal atrophy [http://www.gfmer.ch/000_Homepage_En.htm Image courtesy of Geneva Foundation for Medical Education and Research]
Image:Adrenal atrophy 6.jpg|SCHILDER'S DISEASE, ADRENAL ATROPHY [http://www.peir.net Image courtesy of Professor Peter Anderson DVM PhD © PEIR University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Pathology]
Image:Adrenal atrophy 7.jpg|SCHILDER'S DISEASE, ADRENAL ATROPHY, KIDNEY AND AORTA [http://www.peir.net Image courtesy of Professor Peter Anderson DVM PhD © PEIR, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Pathology]
Image:Adrenal atrophy 8.jpg|ADDISON'S DISEASE, ADRENAL ATROPHY [http://www.peir.net Image courtesy of Professor Peter Anderson DVM PhD © PEIR, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Pathology]
</gallery>
</div>


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 01:56, 10 June 2022

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1];Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Maryam Hadipour, M.D.[2]

Overview

The adrenal glands produce hormones that help regulate your metabolism, immune system, blood pressure, response to stress and other essential functions. Adrenal atrophy may be caused by a loss of ACTH and trophic support of the adrenal cortex or direct damage to the tissue due to exogenous corticosteroid overuse or an endocrine disease, affecting the glands.

Pathophysiology

Physiology

The normal physiology of adrenal atrophy can be understood as follows:

Adrenal glands produce hormones that help regulate your metabolism, immune system, blood pressure, response to stress and other essential functions. The glands are composed of two parts:

  • The adrenal cortex is the outer region and also the largest part of an adrenal gland. It is divided into three separate zones: zona glomerulosa, zona fasciculata and zona reticularis. Each zone is responsible for producing specific hormones.
  • The adrenal medulla is located inside the adrenal cortex in the center of an adrenal gland. It produces “stress hormones,” including epinephrine.


Adrenal Glands - available at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1818_The_Adrenal_Glands.jpg OpenStax College, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Pathogenesis

The exact pathogenesis of adrenal atrophy is not fully understood. However, it is thought that adrenal atrophy is caused by direct insult or the lack of stimulation of the gland. As a result, the disease can be categorized as primary or secondary.

The secondary atrophy is mainly due to the loss of ACTH and trophic support of the adrenal cortex, and this may result in deficits in functional capability of the cortex to produce glucocorticoids. This situation occurs in patients who are on prolonged glucocorticoid therapy, which leads to prolonged inhibition of endogenous pituitary ACTH secretion. Removal of the therapy often results in adrenocortical incompetence. Adrenal atrophy may caused by inhibition of pituitary ACTH or hypothalamic function. Compounds such as valproic acid, bromocriptine, cyproheptadine, ketanserin, ritanserin, somatostatin analogs, glucocorticoids, 4′-thio-beta-d-arabinofuranosylcytosine, and hexachlorobenzene have been noted previously to impair hypothalamo-pituitary function through deficits in ACTH or CRH in various species.

Genetics

The development of adrenal atrophy is the result of multiple genetic and environmental factors, as discussed above. However, the congenital adrenal hyperplasia, a form of adrenal hypotrophy is known as a result of the mutation on the following genes:

  • An X-linked gene, NROB1, encoding DAX-1 protein
  • The steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1) gene, encoded on the 9q33 loci

The autosomal recessive ACTH resistance syndromes such as triple-A syndrome and familial glucocorticoid deficiency, are among other genetics disorders yielding to adrenal atrophy.[1][2][3]

Gross pathology

On gross pathology we expect shrunken adrenal gland.

Microscopic pathology

On microscopic histopathological analysis

Adrenal Atrophy; source: U.S. National Toxicology Program - available at: https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/nnl/endocrine/adrenal/cxzatrophy/index.htm
Image courtesy: PathologyOutlines.com
Image courtesy: PathologyOutlines.com

References

  1. Saleem F, Baradhi KM. PMID 31747186. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. Colagiovanni DB, Drolet DW, Dihel L, Meyer DJ, Hart K, Wolf J (2006). "Safety assessment of 4'-thio-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine in the beagle dog suggests a drug-induced centrally mediated effect on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis". Int J Toxicol. 25 (2): 119–26. doi:10.1080/10915810600605898. PMID 16597550.
  3. McQueen, Charlene (2010). Comprehensive toxicology. Oxford: Elsevier. ISBN 978-0080468686.

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