acute adrenocortical insufficiency

An acute adrenocortical insufficiency, with clinical manifestations of headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, confusion, costovertebral angle pain, circulatory collapse, and coma. May occur in relation to stress of dental or medical procedures in patients with latent adrenal disease or in patients who have undergone prior ACTH or cortisone therapy, especially without control or termination of therapy.

A severe phase or attack of a chronic adrenocortical disorder such as Addison's disease, characterized by insufficient amounts of the adrenocortical hormones and resulting in nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure, and life-threatening imbalances in electrolytes. Also called addisonian crisis, adrenal crisis.

Signs of weakness, vomiting, diarrhea and sometimes collapse accompanying an acute adrenocortical insufficiency. See also hypoadrenocorticism.