Addison's disease is best described as:

• A. Overproduction of cortisol
• B. Inflammation of the adrenal glands
• C. Excess aldosterone production
• D. Adrenal glands do not produce enough cortisol or aldosterone

Answer: (D)

Addison's disease is a form of adrenal insufficiency caused by damage to the adrenal cortex, leading to low production of both cortisol and aldosterone. With insufficient cortisol, the body's ability to respond to stress and maintain energy balance is diminished. With insufficient aldosterone, the kidneys don’t conserve sodium well, so you get salt wasting, hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, low blood pressure, and dehydration. Because of these deficiencies, the condition is best described by the adrenal glands not producing enough cortisol or aldosterone.

If you think about the other statements, they describe conditions with too much cortisol (Cushing's syndrome), or describe inflammation rather than the lack of hormone production, or describe too much aldosterone (hyperaldosteronism). Addison's centers on insufficient hormones from the adrenal cortex.