About this Research Topic
In Addison's disease, characterized by decreased production of glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids from the adrenal cortex, patients can experience cardiovascular issues such as hypotension, syncope, and arrhythmias. The connection between adrenal insufficiency and these life-threatening complications needs further investigation.
Another critical area requiring deeper exploration is glucocorticoid withdrawal syndrome, which can manifest following surgical remission or during pharmacotherapy for Cushing’s syndrome, a condition characterized by excessive cortisol production.
Patients with this condition are also prone to experience substantial changes in their immune profiles, exhibiting characteristics similar to those seen in chronic inflammatory disorders. The interplay of inflammation and selectively impaired immune responses is believed to significantly contribute to the clinical complications seen in Cushing's syndrome.
Increased cortisol production is also observed in a condition known as Mild Autonomous Cortisol Secretion (MACS). As with the treatment of Cushing's disease, MACS-related comorbidities can be managed with either surgery or conservative treatments. However, the benefits of these two different approaches remain a subject of debate.
Identifying and treating disorders such as primary aldosteronism (PA), characterized by excessive production of aldosterone, presents a significant diagnostic challenge. This challenge contributes to a substantial portion of underdiagnosed PA patients. Prolonged aldosterone exposure is known to cause progressive renal injury and increase the risk of cardiovascular events; however, more extensive longitudinal data are needed to fully understand these outcomes.
This research topic aims to comprehensively understand the comorbidities associated with adrenal-related endocrine disorders.
We welcome submission of various article types including Clinical Trial, Methods, Mini Review, Opinion, Original Research, Perspective, Review, Study Protocol, and Systematic Review. Potential areas include, but are not limited to:
1. Long-Term Cardiovascular Outcomes in Addison's Disease:
o Conduct longitudinal studies to better understand the long-term cardiovascular outcomes in patients with Addison’s disease.
2. Postoperative Therapy in Cushing's Syndrome:
o Address the limited number of studies dealing with postoperative therapy in patients with cured Cushing's syndrome experiencing corticosteroid withdrawal.
o Investigate the predisposition to other autoimmune diseases in these patients investigated.
3. Treatment Approaches for MACS:
o Clarify the benefits of surgery versus conservative treatment for patients with mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS)
4. Diagnostic Techniques for Primary Aldosteronism:
o Improve diagnostic techniques to address the significant number of undiagnosed primary aldosteronism cases. Collect extensive longitudinal data on renal and cardiovascular outcomes in primary aldosteronism.
Keywords: comorbidities, primary aldosteronism, MACS, Cushing syndrome, pheochromocytoma, cardiovascular risk, adrenal incidentalomas, CAH
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.