Which combination best describes Addison disease features?

Which combination best describes Addison disease features?

• A. Weight loss with obesity and flushed skin
• B. Jaundice and pruritus
• C. Severe muscle cramps with tetany
• D. Fatigue, weakness, orthostatic hypotension, hyperpigmentation; hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, metabolic acidosis, possible hypoglycemia

Answer: (D)

Addison disease is primary adrenal insufficiency, causing loss of both glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids. This leads to fatigue and weakness from cortisol deficiency, orthostatic hypotension from salt-wasting and volume depletion due to aldosterone deficiency, and hyperpigmentation from ACTH cross-reacting with melanocyte receptors. Electrolyte disturbances are hallmark: hyponatremia and hyperkalemia from aldosterone deficiency, plus a tendency toward metabolic acidosis; hypoglycemia can occur because cortisol helps maintain blood glucose. The described combination captures all of these features, making it the best fit for Addison disease. The other options describe patterns that fit different diseases (for example, obesity with flushed skin isn’t typical of Addison’s; jaundice points to liver/biliary disease; tetany suggests calcium or magnesium disturbances) and don’t align with the adrenal failure picture.

Addison disease is primary adrenal insufficiency, causing loss of both glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids. This leads to fatigue and weakness from cortisol deficiency, orthostatic hypotension from salt-wasting and volume depletion due to aldosterone deficiency, and hyperpigmentation from ACTH cross-reacting with melanocyte receptors. Electrolyte disturbances are hallmark: hyponatremia and hyperkalemia from aldosterone deficiency, plus a tendency toward metabolic acidosis; hypoglycemia can occur because cortisol helps maintain blood glucose. The described combination captures all of these features, making it the best fit for Addison disease. The other options describe patterns that fit different diseases (for example, obesity with flushed skin isn’t typical of Addison’s; jaundice points to liver/biliary disease; tetany suggests calcium or magnesium disturbances) and don’t align with the adrenal failure picture.