Adrenal Gland Disorders

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Basics

Summary
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Symptoms
Diagnosis and Tests
Treatments and Therapies

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Living With
Related Issues
Specifics
Genetics

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Summary

The adrenal glands are small glands located on top of each kidney. They produce hormones that you can't live without, including sex hormones and cortisol. Cortisol helps you respond to stress and has many other important functions.

With adrenal gland disorders, your glands make too much or not enough hormones. In Cushing's syndrome, there's too much cortisol, while with Addison's disease, there is too little. Some people are born unable to make enough cortisol.

Causes of adrenal gland disorders include

Genetic mutations
Tumors including pheochromocytomas
Infections
A problem in another gland, such as the pituitary, which helps to regulate the adrenal gland
Certain medicines

Treatment depends on which problem you have. Surgery or medicines can treat many adrenal gland disorders.

NIH: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Start Here

Adrenal Gland Disorders: Condition Information (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish

Symptoms

What Are the Symptoms of Adrenal Gland Disorders? (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish

Diagnosis and Tests

17-Hydroxyprogesterone Test (American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
ACTH (Adrenocorticotropic Hormone) Test (American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
Aldosterone and Renin Test (American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
Cortisol Test (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
DHEAS Test (American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
How Do Health Care Providers Diagnose Adrenal Gland Disorders? (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish
X-Ray Exam: Bone Age Study (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Treatments and Therapies

How Is Adrenal Surgery Performed? (American Association of Endocrine Surgeons)
Laparoscopic Adrenal Gland Removal (Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons)
What Are the Treatments for Adrenal Gland Disorders? (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish
What Are the Treatments for Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH)? (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish

Living With

Managing Adrenal Insufficiency (National Institutes of Health, Clinical Center) - PDF

Related Issues

Adrenal Fatigue (Endocrine Society, Hormone Health Network)
Health Alert: Adrenal Crisis Causes Death in Some People Who Were Treated with hGH (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
How Do I Find an Experienced Adrenal Surgeon? (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)
Hypertension (Hormone Health Network)
Is There Such a Thing as Adrenal Fatigue? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish

Specifics

Adrenal Gland Cancer: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
Adrenal Incidentaloma (Hormone Health Network) Also in Spanish
Adrenal Insufficiency (Hormone Health Network) - PDF Also in Spanish
Adrenal Insufficiency and Addison's Disease (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
Adrenoleukodystrophy (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish
Detection, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Primary Aldosteronism (Hormone Health Network) - PDF
Primary Aldosteronism (Hormone Health Network) Also in Spanish
Virilization (Adrenogenital Syndrome) (Merck & Co., Inc.) Also in Spanish
What Are Some Types of Adrenal Gland Disorders? (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish

Genetics

Genetics Home Reference: 17 alpha-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase deficiency (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: 21-hydroxylase deficiency (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: 3-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: aldosterone-producing adenoma (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 11-beta-hydroxylase deficiency (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: corticosterone methyloxidase deficiency (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: familial hyperaldosteronism (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: intrauterine growth restriction, metaphyseal dysplasia, adrenal hypoplasia congenita, and genital anomalies (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: primary macronodular adrenal hyperplasia (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: X-linked adrenal hypoplasia congenita (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (National Library of Medicine)

Clinical Trials

ClinicalTrials.gov: Adrenal Gland Diseases (National Institutes of Health)
ClinicalTrials.gov: Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

Reference Desk

Endocrine System (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Find an Expert

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish
Hormone Health Network
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Children

Blood Test: 17-Hydroxyprogesterone (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation)

Teenagers

Endocrine System (For Teens) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

17-hydroxycorticosteroids (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
17-OH progesterone (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
24-hour urinary aldosterone excretion rate (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
ACTH (cosyntropin) stimulation test (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
ACTH blood test (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Acute adrenal crisis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Adrenal glands (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Adrenalectomy (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Aldosterone blood test (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Hyperaldosteronism - primary and secondary (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish