J Korean Rheum Assoc.  2008 Mar;15(1):87-91. 10.4078/jkra.2008.15.1.87.

A Case of Primary Adrenal Insufficiency Presenting as the Initial Clinical Manifestation of Primary Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome

• Ha YE
• Koh EM
• Kim KH
• Kim MY
• Ahn JK
• Cha HS

• KMID: 1324515
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4078/jkra.2008.15.1.87

Abstract

Primary adrenal insufficiency is one of the rare clinical manifestations of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. The pathogenesis is mainly ascribed to the hemorrhagic infarction secondary to thrombosis. We describe a 19-year-old man who developed symptoms of adrenal insufficiency and then was diagnosed of primary antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, which is the first reported case in adult patients in Korea. The possibility of adrenal failure should be considered in the management of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome and also, when primary adrenal insufficiency is accompanied by no definite etiology, the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome should be considered as a possible etiology.

Keyword

Primary adrenal insufficiency; Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome; Adrenal infarct

MeSH Terms

Adult
Male
Female
Humans

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Black pigmentation of skin, lip, buccal mucosa, gingiva and palmar crease which is a characteristic of primary adrenal insufficiency.

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  Fig. 2. Both adrenal glands show swelling and low attenuation, which suggests adrenal infarction (A). After 6 months, both adrenal glands are atrophic (B), which suggests progressive destruction of adrenal glands as a sequale of adrenal infarction.

Reference

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