These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Addison's disease associated with hypokalemia: a case report.
    Author: Abdalla M, Dave JA, Ross IL.
    Journal: J Med Case Rep; 2021 Mar 25; 15(1):131. PubMed ID: 33761983.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: Primary adrenal insufficiency (Addison's disease) is a rare medical condition usually associated with hyperkalemia or normokalemia. We report a rare case of Addison's disease, coexisting with hypokalemia, requiring treatment. CASE PRESENTATION: In this case, a 42-year-old man was admitted to the intensive care unit with a history of loss of consciousness and severe hypoglycemia. His blood tests showed metabolic acidosis, low concentrations of cortisol 6 nmol/L (normal 68-327 nmol/L), and high plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone 253 pmol/L (normal 1.6-13.9 pmol/L), and he was diagnosed with primary adrenal insufficiency. Surprisingly, his serum potassium was low, 2.3 mmol/L (normal 3.5-5.1 mmol/L), requiring replacement over the course of his admission. Computed tomography scan of the adrenal glands showed features suggestive of unilateral adrenal tuberculosis. Investigations confirmed renal tubulopathy. The patient responded favorably to cortisol replacement, but never required fludrocortisone. CONCLUSIONS: Coexistence of hypokalemia with Addison's disease is unusual. We recommend investigation of the cause of hypokalemia in its own right, if it occurs with primary adrenal insufficiency.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]