Steroid Therapy in Adrenal Insufficiency

Addison’s disease or autoimmune adrenalitis: These are autoimmune conditions, constituting 80% of all cases. Autoimmune adrenalitis may be part of Type 2 autoimmune polyglandular syndrome, which can include type 1 diabetes, hyperthyroidism, and autoimmune thyroid disease (also known as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis), and Hashimoto’s disease. Hypogonadism may also present with this syndrome. Other diseases that are more common in people with autoimmune adrenalitis include premature ovarian failure, celiac disease, and autoimmune gastritis with pernicious anemia. Other subtypes include idiopathic (unknown) cause, congenital adrenal hyperplasia or an adenoma (tumor) of the adrenal gland.