Primary adrenocortical insufficiency in childhood

Seven patients with primary glucocorticoid or glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid deficiency are described with emphasis on the clinical presentation and laboratory investigations. Two patients presented with irreversible shock and at autopsy adrenal tissue was recognized only microscopically. In 3 patients adrenal antibodies were present. One girl had the polyglandular autoimmune disorder type I and one boy had glucocorticoid deficiency only. The histories of the patients illustrate that the presenting symptoms of primary adrenocortical insufficiency are very insidious and that it may take several years before the correct diagnosis is made and hydrocortisone substitution therapy is instituted.