An Addisonian crisis is an acute, life-threatening deficiency of the body’s own hormone cortisol and also aldosterone. In neurosurgery, Addisonian crisis is particularly relevant in tumors involving the pituitary gland and is a life-threatening emergency.
Signs and Symptoms
The following signs and symptoms are typical of an Addisonian crisis1.
- Altered mental status (confusion, lethargy, or agitation)
- Muscle weakness
- Hypotension progressing to life-threatening shock
- Hyperthermia
Laboratory Abnormalities
Laboratory findings in an Addisonian crisis include hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, hypoglycemia, and disruption of the hormonal axes2.
Treatment of an Addisonian Crisis
The treatment of choice is emergency corticosteroid replacement therapy.
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