Published online January 22, 2007
PEDIATRICS Vol. 119 No. 2 February 2007, pp. e484-e494 (doi:10.1542/peds.2006-1612)
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow P3Rs: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when P3Rs are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Shulman, D. I.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Shulman, D. I.
Related Collections
Right arrow Endocrinology

REVIEW ARTICLE

Adrenal Insufficiency: Still a Cause of Morbidity and Death in Childhood

Dorothy I. Shulman, MDa, Mark R. Palmert, MD, PhDb, Stephen F. Kemp, MDc for the Lawson Wilkins Drug and Therapeutics Committee

a Department of Pediatrics, All Children's Hospital, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida
b Department of Pediatrics, Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
c Department of Pediatrics, Arkansas Children's Hospital, University of Arkansas, Little Rock, Arkansas

Adrenal insufficiency is relatively rare in childhood and adolescence. Signs and symptoms may be nonspecific; therefore, the diagnosis may not be suspected early in the course. If unrecognized, adrenal insufficiency may present with life-threatening cardiovascular collapse. Adrenal crisis continues to occur in children with known primary or secondary adrenal insufficiency during intercurrent illness because of failure to increase glucocorticoid dosage. In this article, current knowledge of the incidence, diagnosis, and treatment of adrenal insufficiency in children and factors precipitating adrenal crisis are summarized. Suggestions for prevention of adrenal crisis in patients at risk are provided for health care professionals and families.

Key Words: adrenal disorders • morbidity/mortality • adverse outcomes

Abbreviations: CRH—corticotropin-releasing hormone • ACTH—adrenocorticotropic hormone • CAH—congenital adrenal hyperplasia • GH—growth hormone

Accepted Sep 13, 2006.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 CLIN PEDIATRHome page
S. Kunde, M. Riederer, and K. Moltz
Chronic Illness
Clinical Pediatrics, June 1, 2008; 47(5): 514 - 516.
[PDF]