[Endocrine crises]

Abstract

Endocrine crises can occur in diabetes mellitus, in pituitary failure when there is a lack of ACTH, TSH or ADH secretion, in severe hyper- or hypothyroidism (thyroid storm and myxedema coma), severe hyper- or hypoparathyroidism (parathyroid crisis and tetany), in adrenal failure and in patients with pheochromocytoma or carcinoid tumors. Cushing's syndrome can be associated with psychotic crises. This review describes the most important clinical features and the basic diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of the non diabetic endocrine crises.