Adrenocortical Pathology

Overview

Given the diverse physiological functions of corticosteroids, their excess or deficiency result in with multifarious consequences. A variety of etiologies can give rise to these syndromes ranging from specific enzymatic defects to general pathologies of the adrenal cortex.
In certain cases these syndromes may be secondary to defects in other organs or by caused iatrogenically by corticosteroid-like pharmaceuticals. In general, pathologies of hormone excess typically affect a single corticosteroid hormone class and thus different syndromes develop depending on which corticosteroid is excessive. In contrast, deficiency of corticosteroids tends to occur due to widespread damage to the adrenal cortex which typically results in deficiency of all of hormones simultaneously.