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Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Dhaliwal, MD, board-certified in Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Springfield, VA. In: Melmed S, Auchus, RJ, Goldfine AB, Koenig RJ, Rosen CJ, eds. Related Information Catecholamine blood testįriedman TC. Massive bilateral adrenal hemorrhage ( Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome) - failure of adrenal glands to function as a result of bleeding into the gland, usually associated with severe infection, called sepsis.Primary aldosteronism (Conn syndrome) - disorder in which the adrenal gland releases too much of the hormone aldosterone.Hump behind shoulders (dorsocervical fat pad).Glucocorticoid medicines such as prednisone, methylprednisolone, dexamethasone, and hydrocortisoneĮxcessive or unwanted hair in women ( hirsutism).Diabetes mellitus (high blood sugar) caused by the adrenal gland making too much cortisol.Cushing syndrome - disorder that occurs when the body has a high level of the hormone cortisol.Congenital adrenal hyperplasia - disorder in which the adrenal glands lack an enzyme needed to make certain hormones.Addison disease, also called adrenal insufficiency - an autoimmune disorder that causes the adrenal glands to not produce enough hormones.Pituitary diseases can lead to problems with adrenal function.Ĭonditions related to adrenal gland problems include: The pituitary, a small gland at the bottom of the brain, releases a hormone called ACTH that stimulates the adrenal cortex to make its hormones. Medicines can also affect the adrenal glands. Some are permanent and some go away over time. The adrenal glands can be affected by many diseases, such as autoimmune disorders, infections, tumors, and bleeding. This might happen at birth or later in life. When the glands produce more or less hormones than normal, you can become sick. These hormones are also called adrenaline and noradrenaline. It produces epinephrine and norepinephrine. The inner part of the gland is called the medulla. It produces steroid hormones such as cortisol, aldosterone, and hormones that can be changed into testosterone. The outer part of the gland is called the cortex. ImagesĮach adrenal gland is about the size of the top part of the thumb. One gland is located on top of each kidney. The adrenal glands are two small triangle-shaped glands in the upper abdomen.

Adrenal glands hormones