How do primary and secondary adrenal insufficiency differ?
Primary Adrenal Insufficiency: Most cases of Addisions disease caused by the bodys own immune system. About 70% of reported cases are due to autoimmune disorders in which the immune system makes antibodies that attack the bodys own tissues or organs and slowly destroy them. Adrenal insufficiency occurs when at least 90% of the adrenal cortex has been destroyed, resulting in a lack of both glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid hormones.Somestimes only the adrenal gland is affected, sometimes other glands are affected as in polyendocrine deficiency disorder. TB accounts for about 20% of primary cases in developed countries. Less common causes include: chronic infections (mainly fungal); cancer cells spread from other parts of body to adrenal glands; amyloidosis (accumulation of an abnormal protein, amyloid, in various tissues of body); and surgical removal of the adrenal glands. Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency This form of Addisions disease is traced to a lack of ACTH, which causes a drop
