Addison disease is caused by which of the following?

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Multiple Choice

Addison disease is caused by which of the following?

Addison disease arises when the adrenal cortex is destroyed or dysfunctional, leading to primary adrenal insufficiency with very low cortisol and aldosterone. This failure to produce these hormones explains the classic symptoms and labs: fatigue and weight loss from low cortisol, low blood pressure and salt-wasting from low aldosterone, and even hyperpigmentation from high ACTH. The other conditions describe different problems: Cushing syndrome is due to too much cortisol, pheochromocytoma is a tumor of the adrenal medulla causing excess catecholamines, and hyperthyroidism is due to overproduction of thyroid hormone. None of these reflect the adrenal cortex failure that defines Addison disease.

Addison disease arises when the adrenal cortex is destroyed or dysfunctional, leading to primary adrenal insufficiency with very low cortisol and aldosterone. This failure to produce these hormones explains the classic symptoms and labs: fatigue and weight loss from low cortisol, low blood pressure and salt-wasting from low aldosterone, and even hyperpigmentation from high ACTH.

The other conditions describe different problems: Cushing syndrome is due to too much cortisol, pheochromocytoma is a tumor of the adrenal medulla causing excess catecholamines, and hyperthyroidism is due to overproduction of thyroid hormone. None of these reflect the adrenal cortex failure that defines Addison disease.

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