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Published on: September 15, 2017
Addison's disease masking a potentially life-threatening condition
Geurys Rojas-Marte1, Sameer Chadha2, Sarita Konka1
1Department of Internal Medicine , Maimonides Medical Center , Brooklyn, NY 11219 , USA.
Insights
Addison's disease (AD) can cause hyperkalemia, leading to electrocardiogram changes that may mimic cardiac conditions. This case highlights the diagnostic challenge in patients with AD presenting with chest pain.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Cardiology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Addison's disease (AD) is an endocrine disorder affecting adrenal hormone production.
- Metabolic disturbances, particularly potassium imbalance (hyperkalemia), are characteristic of AD.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG) findings in hyperkalemia can resemble primary cardiac pathologies.
Abstract:
Addison's disease (AD) is a metabolic disorder that affects the metabolism of potassium. The hyperkalemia that results from this condition can be reflected in the electrocardiogram, which could confound the diagnosis of other cardiac conditions. Such a challenging situation was encountered when a 73-year-old male with history of AD presented to the emergency department with chest pain.
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