Hyperpigmentation in Addison’s Disease: Case Report

Abstract

The primary adrenal insufficiency or Addison's disease is a rare disorder of the adrenal glands and is a risk factor, since its diagnosis is often not recognized in the early stages of the disease. Currently, its main cause is idiopathic atrophy, but it can occur due to infectious, traumatic and neoplastic causes. Symptoms of the condition include: asthenia, weakness, nausea, weight loss, hypotension, and hyperpigmentation. The skin and mucosa hyperpigmentation is the most characteristic symptom of the disease, but may be present in other differential diagnoses, such as hemochromatosis, chronic kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, ocronosis, among others. We report a case of a patient who was referred for investigation of diffuse cutaneous and mucosa hyperpigmentation. The patient also indicated complaints of weight loss, fatigue, anorexia, hypotension and constipation. Several tests were conducted to research and accomplished the diagnosis of Addison's disease.