anti-adrenal antibody

Etiology

• autoimmune adrenalitis
  • idiopathic Addison's disease

Pathology

• in autoimmune adrenalitis, anti-adrenal antibodies are of the IgG class & are directed against adrenocortical microsomes
• the test is used as a marker for idiopathic Addison's disease
  • 50% of patients will have positive titers.
• adrenal autoantibodies are not seen with adrenal tumors, Cushing's disease, virilizing adrenal hyperplasia, or tuberculosis of the adrenal gland
• patients with autoimmune adrenalitis have a higher incidence of other organ-specific autoimmune diseases including:
  • Grave's disease
  • Hashimoto's thyroiditis
  • insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
  • pernicious anemia
  • ovarian failure

Laboratory

• adrenal antibody in serum

More general terms

• autoantibody

Additional terms

• adrenal (suprarenal) gland
• adrenal antibody in serum