Addison's Disease
It was described by Thomas Addison, who is named, and occurs at any age, affecting men and women alike. Historically, tuberculosis was the most frequent cause of disease, but also other diseases such as histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis and critiptococosis.
The disease is fatal if untreated. Advanced cases of disease are obviously the easiest to diagnose, but recognition of it in the earliest stages is usually quite complicated.
It is a rare disease in which the adrenal glands cease to function. This disease does not usually become apparent until more than 90% of the adrenal cortex has been destroyed, so little capacity remaining adrenal. The adrenal cortex is the one responsible for producing cortisol, aldosterone and androgens.
However, Addison disease is not a condition of "all or nothing". In the initial stages of the disease, many individuals can still produce enough cortisol and aldosterone. This is partly so that the immune system attacks the body's own organs.
The Addison's Disease now comprises approximately seventy percent of cases and affects more women than men. The cause of autoimmune adrenalitis is unknown, like most other autoimmune diseases.
The classic form of Addison's disease is caused by a decrease of both hormones, cortisol and aldosterone, due to total or near total destruction of both adrenal glands. This condition is also called hypocortisolism.