Table 1:Primary and secondary adrenal insufficiency etiology. AIDS: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
Primary Adrenal Insufficiency | Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency |
---|---|
Autoimmune adrenalitis (80-90% in developed countries) | Pituitary tumors or other tumors of the hypothalamus-pituitary region (adrenal failure secondary to tumor growth, surgery or radiotherapy performed) |
Infectious adrenalitis (Tuberculosis, AIDS, fungic infection, etc) | Lymphocytic hypophysitis (alone or as part of a polyglandular autoimmune syndrome) |
Bilateral adrenalectomy | Glucocorticoid excess intake |
Congenital disorders (congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency, 11p hydroxylase deficiency, 3β deshidrogeanase hydroxysteroid deficiency, or 17α hydroxylase deficiency) |
Pituitary apoplexy/Sheehan Syndrome |
Tumor infiltration | Pituitary infiltration (Tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, Wegener granulomatosis) |
Bilateral adrenal hemorrhage | Craneoencephalic traumatism |