Anyone has information about "Addison" disease?

It's a rare illness marked by gradual and progressive failure of the adrenal glands and insufficient production of steroid hormones. Patients with Addison's disease make inadequate amounts of both glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids. Adrenal failure typically results from autoimmune destruction of the adrenal glands, chronic infections (e.g, tuberculosis, cytomegalovirus, or histoplasmosis), or cancers that metastasize to the adrenal glands from other organs (e.g, the lungs or breast).

The person may be symptom-free until the majority of adrenal tissue is destroyed. Early complaints are usually nonspecific: a feeling of weakness or fatigue. Subsequently, patients may notice lack of appetite, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and dizziness. Physical findings may include postural hypotension and increased skin pigmentation. Laboratory studies may reveal hyponatremia (a decreased concentration of sodium in the blood) and hyperkalemia (an excessive amount of potassium in the blood.) If these findings are present, a cosyntropin stimulation test may be performed to establish the diagnosis.

Chronic adrenal insufficiency is managed with corticosteroids, such as prednisone, usually taken twice a day. During episodic illnesses or stresses (e.g, surgeries) the maintenance dose of these medications is increased, then tapered over several days back to baseline levels.

Does this answer your questions?

Here's a site with some detailed information about it in dogs:

http://www.vetinfo.com/dencyclopedia/dea...

For the human version of the disease, look here for some information from the Mayo Clinic:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/addison...

As above, the adrenal glands stop producing their very important hormones, and the body loses its ability to regulate salts and sugars. If the pituitary is still functioning it throws as much ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone) as it senses there is not enough. It cross reacts as MSH (melanocyte stimulating hormone) and causes the body to produce more melanin. Blondes will get dark hair, blue eyes will turn brown, the pigmentation in the skin is most notable over the joints and in the inguinal region. Other symptoms can include lethargy, weight loss, and vague abdominal symptoms.

JFK reportedly had this disorder. With proper diagnosis, one can live a long and productive live with hormone replacement (absent any Lee Harvey Oswalds hanging around in the buildings above).

Addison's disease is also called chronic adrenocortical insufficiency,adrenocortical insufficiency usually as the result of idiopathic atrophy or destruction of both adrenal glands by tuberculosis, an autoimmune process, or other diseases; characterized by fatigue, decreased blood pressure, weight loss, increased melanin pigmentation of the skin and mucous membranes, anorexia, and nausea or vomiting; without appropriate replacement therapy, it can progress to acute adrenocortical insufficiency