Adrenal Gland Disorders: MedlinePlus

Adrenal Gland Disorders: MedlinePlus

 

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National Institutes of Health

Adrenal Gland Disorders

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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

MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA  

• 17-hydroxycorticosteroids
• 17-OH progesterone
• 24-hour urinary aldosterone excretion rate
• ACTH
• ACTH (cosyntropin) stimulation test
• Acute adrenal crisis
• Adrenal glands
• Adrenalectomy
• Aldosterone
• Chloride - urine
• 
  

  

Related Topics

• Addison Disease
• Adrenal Gland Cancer
• Cushing's Syndrome
• Pheochromocytoma
• Endocrine System

National Institutes of Health

• The primary NIH organization for research on Adrenal Gland Disorders is the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

 

Start Here

• Adrenal Gland Disorders(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) 

• Overviews

  • Adrenal Gland Disorders(Urology Care Foundation)

• Diagnosis/Symptoms

  • 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)
  • Collection of a 24-Hour Urine Specimen (Beyond the Basics)(UpToDate)
  • Cortisol Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
  • DHEAS Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
  • What Are the Symptoms of Adrenal Gland Disorders?(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)
  • X-Ray Exam: Bone Age Study (For Parents)(Nemours Foundation)
  • Also available in Spanish

• Treatment

  • 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)
  • What Are the Treatments for Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH)?(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)

• Disease Management

  • Managing Adrenal Insufficiency(National Institutes of Health, Clinical Center) - PDF
  • Return to top

• Specific Conditions

  • Adrenal Insufficiency(Hormone Health Network) - PDF
  • Also available 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) - Short Summary
  • Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD)(National Marrow Donor Program)
  • Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia(American Academy of Family Physicians)
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)
  • Detection, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Primary Aldosteronism(Hormone Health Network) - PDF
  • MedlinePlus: Adrenal Gland Cancer(National Library of Medicine)
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Primary Aldosteronism(Hormone Health Network)
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Virilization(Merck & Co., Inc.)
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• Related Issues

  • Health Alert: Adrenal Crisis Causes Death in Some People Who Were Treated with hGH(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
  • Hypertension(Hormone Health Network)
  • Myth vs. Fact: Adrenal Fatigue(Endocrine Society, Hormone Health Network) - PDF
  • Secondary Hypertension(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
  • Return to top

• Videos

  • Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy(OR-Live) - Shawnee Mission Medical Center, Shawnee Mission, KS, 12/13/2007
  • Return to top

• Anatomy/Physiology

  • Endocrine System (For Parents)(Nemours Foundation)
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Return to top

• Clinical Trials

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

  • 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: 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: X-linked adrenal hypoplasia congenita(National Library of Medicine)
  • Genetics Home Reference: X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy(National Library of Medicine)
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• Journal Articles

  References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
  • Article: The adrenal gland: common disease states and suspected new applications.
  • Article: Endocrinology review - adrenal and thyroid disorders.
  • Article: Focal adrenal lesions in pediatric patients.
  • Article: Association between genotype, clinical presentation, and severity of congenital adrenal...
  • Adrenal Gland Disorders -- see more articles
  • Return to top

• Directories

  • Directory of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases Organizations(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
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• Organizations

  • Hormone Health Network
  • National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
  • Return to top

• Children

  • Blood Test: 17-Hydroxyprogesterone (For Parents)(Nemours Foundation)
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
  • Surgery Consideration for Girls with Classical Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH)(CARES Foundation)
  • Return to top

• Teenagers

  • Endocrine System(Nemours Foundation)
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Return to top

• Patient Handouts

  • Acute adrenal crisis
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Adrenal glands
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Adrenalectomy
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Hyperaldosteronism - primary and secondary
  • Also available in Spanish  
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  New on the MedlinePlus Adrenal Gland Disorders page:
  
  Genetics Home Reference: Corticosterone methyloxidase deficiency

  11/12/2013 11:30 PM EST

  
  

  Source: National Library of Medicine -