Acute adrenal insufficiency: a case report

The chances of cardiovascular collapse leading to a diagnosis of Addison's disease are rare. One report cited 3 of 60,000 cases in which this may have occurred. However, it can happen and should be considered in hemodynamically unstable patients if the usual causes of hypotension have been eliminated. This is especially true in high-risk patients, ie, those who chronically receive steroids.