ENDOCRINOLOGY/METABOLISM
Addison’s disease, a disorder of the adrenal glands, is characterized
by a deficiency of hormones the body needs to regulate most bodily
systems.
Longer life expectancy and the higher prevalence of obesity and type 2
diabetes may explain the trend toward an increased incidence of this
disorder.
Cushing’s syndrome is a manifestation of symptoms that are precipitated by excessive cortisol production.
There has been a renewed interest in metabolic syndrome in children in
recent years in association with increasing childhood obesity, and the
origins of metabolic syndrome have been traced back to childhood.
This condition is an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction in elderly women.
This disorder, especially the acute form, incurs a significant burden in terms of medical care and drug costs.
The pancreas produces insulin and enzymes that help digest food and can become inflamed as a result of alcoholism, gallstones, or infection.
