Adrenal crisis (acute adrenal insufficiency) occurs in patients with chronic adrenal insufficiency (not diagnosed or not properly treated). Hormones produced by adrenal cortex (corticosteroids and mineralocorticoids) are responsible for, among others, physical and psychological stress response, water and sodium-calcium balance regulation, blood glucose control and arterial blood pressure.

Therapy consists of deficiencies correction, meaning lifelong administration of adequate dose of steroids. Often infection or severe stress are the reasons of adrenal crisis occurrence, and shock is the effect of it. Shock leads to vascular disorders, severe electrolytes disturbances (hiperkalemia, hyponatremia) and hypoglycemia.

Adrenal crisis is a life-threatening situation requiring immediate emergency treatment! Non-treated leads to death!