How to Test for Addison's Disease

Addison's disease is a rare but serious endocrine disorder characterized by a deficiency of steroid hormones produced by the adrenal glands. Addison's disease affects only about one in 100,000 people, and while it can strike at any age, it typically occurs equally in men and women between the ages of 30 and 50. If you suspect that you or someone you know may be exhibiting signs of this disorder, then you need to learn how to test for Addison's disease.

Instructions

Learn How to Test for Addison's Disease

• 1

  Learn what it means to have Addison's disease. Your adrenal glands, located directly above each kidney, are assigned the task of regulating every organ and tissue in your body. To do this, it's necessary for these glands to produce sufficient amounts of glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids, namely the hormones cortisol and aldosterone. In Addison's disease, this function is impaired.

• 2

  Recognize the symptoms of Addison's disease. The following symptoms may occur over time: fatigue, muscle weakness, weight loss accompanied by loss of appetite, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), very low blood pressure, increased skin pigmentation and a craving for salty foods.

• 3

  Plan on a blood test to be taken to determine whether or not you may be suffering from Addison's disease. Serum levels of potassium, sodium, cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secreted by the pituitary gland will be measured, in addition to the level of antibodies present.

• 4

  Roll up your sleeve for an ACTH stimulation test, which measures the amount of cortisol in the blood before and after an injection of synthetic ACTH is administered. A low level of cortisol release, or none at all, in response to the synthetic ACTH suggests adrenal gland impairment.

• 5

  Be prepared for a CT scan of your abdomen (known as a tomography) to look for structural abnormalities of the adrenal glands. Note that this imaging test may be repeated on your pituitary gland, as well.

• 6

  Expect one more injection, with insulin this time. Your doctor may want to perform this test to see how your cortisone production and blood glucose levels respond to the introduction of insulin. In normal adrenal functioning, the presence of insulin causes cortisone levels to rise and glucose levels to fall.