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 |