aetiology
Last reviewed 07/2021
Long term glucocorticoid medication is the most common cause of secondary hypoadrenalism.
Other causes of secondary hypoadrenalism include:
- pituitary lesions:
- pituitary surgery
- irradiation
- adenoma
- pituitary apoplexy
- granulomatous disease e.g. sarcoidosis & Wegener's granulomatosis
- metastases
- Sheehan's syndrome (rare)
- idiopathic isolated ACTH deficiency (very rare)
- hypothalamic and mid-brain lesions:
- surgery & head injury
- tumour e.g. craniopharyngioma
- cranial irradiation
- granulomatous disease