[Clinical and immunological studies in idiopathic adrenal insufficiency]

The application of 2 special methods to the pathogenetic elucidation of idiopathic Addison's disease is discussed in the light of a clinical case. In accordance with the literature, this patient with idiopathic Addison's disease showed a normal adrenomedullary response (as gauged by the catecholamine excretion and the increase in plasma renin activity) to 2-deoxy-D-glucose administration. Moreover, IgG antibodies were demonstrable in the patient's serum with respect to adrenocortical antigens of the cytoplasmic components of the endocrine cells of the zona glomerulosa and zona fisciculata.