Addison’s disease is a disorder that gradually destroys the adrenal glands, causing them to produce insufficient amounts of certain hormones. The body has two adrenal glands, one located on top of each kidney. The most common cause of Addison’s disease is an autoimmune disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the adrenal glands. Other causes of Addison’s disease include cancer, infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, and such fungal diseases as histoplasmosis. Addison’s disease is named after the British doctor Thomas Addison, who first described the disorder in 1855.
Addison’s disease develops gradually, and patients are unable to say exactly when their symptoms began. Almost all patients experience weakness and fatigue, and most suffer weight loss. Many patients experience nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The disease also is characterized by abnormal skin pigmentation (coloration). In most patients, the skin becomes darker than normal. Abnormal pigmentation may be especially evident in areas of the body exposed to light.
Doctors treat Addison’s disease by prescribing drugs to replace the missing hormones. One of the most widely used drugs is hydrocortisone. The majority of patients who receive treatment can live full, active lives.
