Primary Adrenal Insufficiency After COVID-19 Infection

Abstract

Background/objective: The multisystemic effects of COVID-19 are becoming evident. In the adrenal gland, adrenal hemorrhage and infarction after COVID-19 infection have been reported. Our objective is to present a case of autoimmune adrenal insufficiency diagnosed after COVID-19 infection, without the evidence of a hemorrhage or an infarction.

Case report: A 64-year-old woman with hypothyroidism and type 2 diabetes presented with a 1-week history of abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. She had experienced asymptomatic COVID-19 infection 5 months prior and reported an unintentional 30-lb weight loss. The home medications included enalapril, atorvastatin, and levothyroxine. A physical examination was notable for hypotension, epigastric tenderness, and mucocutaneous hyperpigmentation. Laboratory tests revealed a serum sodium level of 117 mmol/L (range, <20 mmol/L), thyroid-stimulating hormone level of 0.33 μIU/mL (range, 0.35-4.00 μIU/mL), free thyroxine level of 1.4 ng/dL (range, 0.6-1.7 ng/dL), serum osmoles of 253 mOsm/kg (range, 279-300 mOsm/kg), urine osmoles of 324 mOsm/kg (range, 300-900 mOsm/kg), and urine sodium level of 104 mmol/L. The morning cortisol level was 2.6 μg/dL (reference [ref], >18 μg/dL). This was followed by a high-dose, 250-μg adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test, which revealed that the cortisol level was 2.3, 2.9, and 2.6 μg/dL (ref, >18 μg/dL) at baseline, 30 minutes, and 60 minutes, respectively. The ACTH level was 1944 pg/mL (range, 7.2-63.3 pg/mL), the aldosterone level was <3.0 ng/dL (range, 4.0-31.0 ng/dL), and anti-21-hydroxylase antibody was present (ref, negative). A computed tomography scan of the adrenals was unremarkable. Hypotension and hyponatremia resolved after initiation of intravenous hydrocortisone, and she was discharged on hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone.

Discussion: The patient's symptoms, elevated ACTH level, low cortisol level, and presence of 21-hydroxylase antibodies were consistent with Addison disease. COVID-19 might have contributed to rapid, clinically relevant disease progression after the infection.

Conclusion: The development of autoimmune Addison disease in the patient might be related to the prior COVID-19 infection.

Keywords: AAI, autoimmune adrenal insufficiency; AI, adrenal insufficiency; Addison disease; COVID-19; CT, computed tomography; SARS-CoV-2; adrenal insufficiency.

Fig

Abdominopelvic computed tomography without contrast upon initial presentation. Imaging of the patient’s abdomen demonstrated grossly normal-appearing adrenal glands (yellow arrows).