primary adrenocortical insufficiency

Primary adrenocortical insufficiency is the more common form of hypoadrenocorticism.

A failure for serum cortisol levels to increase after administration of cosyntropin makes a diagnosis of primary adrenocortical insufficiency more likely.

Bilateral destruction of the adrenal cortex by neoplasia (e.g. lymphosarcoma), granulomatous disease, or arterial thrombosis can also cause primary adrenocortical insufficiency.

Addison's disease is also known as chronic primary adrenocortical insufficiency, to distinguish it from acute primary adrenocortical insufficiency, most often caused by Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome.