Renal involvement in adrenal insufficiency (Addison disease): can we always recognize it?

Addison disease is due to the destruction or dysfunction of the entire adrenal cortex. Nowadays, the causes of adrenal insufficiency are autoimmune disease for 70–90% and tuberculosis for 7–20%. Many typical signs and symptoms, such as hyponatremia, hyperkalaemia, or renal insufficiency can represent the reasons for a nephrology consultation, especially in conditions of urgency, and they can easily be confused with other causes. Moreover, the fact that in a short time range we have diagnosed the three cases described as a guide in this review, has aroused our attention as nephrologists on a disease in which we have probably already encountered but without recognizing it. The blood tests showed in all three patients severe electrolyte disorders and acute renal failure which will be discussed in their physiopathogenetic mechanisms. In a peculiar way, these alterations were not controlled with repolarizing solutions, fluid replacement and increased volemia, but only after steroid administration. In conclusion, in this review all the known pathogenic mechanisms causing disorders of nephrological interest in adrenal insufficiency are discussed.