Addison's disease: Symptoms & Signs, Diagnosis & Tests

Symptoms & Signs

* Changes in blood pressure or heart rate
* Chronic diarrhea
* Darkening of the skin – patchy skin color
* Unnaturally dark color in some places
* Paleness
* Extreme weakness
* Fatigue
* Loss of appetite
* Mouth lesions on the inside of a cheek (buccal mucosa)
* Nausea and vomiting
* Salt craving
* Slow, sluggish movement
* Unintentional weight loss

Diagnosis & Tests

Tests may show:
* Increased potassium
* Low blood pressure
* Low cortisol level
* Low serum sodium
* Normal sex hormone levels

Other tests may include:
* Abdominal x-ray
* Abdominal CT scan
This disease may also change the results of the following tests:
* 17-hydroxycorticosteroids
* 17-ketosteroids
* 24-hour urinary aldosterone excretion rate
* ACTH
* Aldosterone
* Blood eosinophil count
* CO2
* Cortrosyn stimulation test
* Potassium test
* Renin
* Urine cortisol

Addison’s disease: Overview, Causes

Addison’s disease: Symptoms & Signs, Diagnosis & Tests

Addison’s disease: Treatment

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