Addison’s Disease Caused by Tuberculosis: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Difficulties

Sanne van Haren Noman

Department of Internal Medicine, Diakonessenhuis Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

Hannah Visser

Department of Internal Medicine, Beatrixziekenhuis, Gorinchem, The Netherlands

Alex Muller

Department of Internal Medicine, Diakonessenhuis Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

Gijs Limonard

epartment of Pulmonary Diseases and Tuberculosis, Diakonessenhuis Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

Keywords

Tuberculosis, Addison’s disease, adrenalitis

Abstract

Objectives: To demonstrate difficulties in diagnosing and treating Addison’s disease caused by tuberculosis.
Materials and methods: We present a clinical case and review of the literature.
Results: A 62-year-old man presented with gastrointestinal symptoms, weight loss and enlarged adrenal glands. After 2 months of diagnostic tests, a working diagnosis of Addison’s disease due to extrapulmonary tuberculosis was made. Treatment was challenging due to interaction between rifampicin and steroids.
Conclusion: Our case illustrates that in non-endemic countries, extrapulmonary tuberculosis still needs to be considered as a possible cause of Addison’s disease.

References

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  • Zorginstituut Nederland. Rifampicine. Farmacotherapeutisch Kompas; 2018. Available at: https://www.farmacotherapeutischkompas.nl/bladeren/preparaatteksten/r/rifampicine (accessed 26 Mar 2018).
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Published: 2018-06-12
Issue: Vol. 5 No. 8 (2018) (view)

How to cite:
1.
Haren Noman S van, Visser H, Muller A, Limonard G. Addison’s Disease Caused by Tuberculosis: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Difficulties. EJCRIM [Internet]. 2018 Jun. 12 [cited 2025 Aug. 21];5(8). Available from: https://www.ejcrim.com/index.php/EJCRIM/article/view/911