Familial Addison's Disease

Abstract

Although familial Addison's disease has been previously reported, it is usually associated with hypoparathyroidism or with congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Familial Addison's disease by itself is rare. Recent case reports by Whitaker et al.¹and DiGeorge and Paschkis²have reviewed the subject of hypoparathyroidism and Addison's disease. The Addisonian-like aspect of the familial disease, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, has been reviewed by Iversen,³Grumbach and Wilkins,⁴and Childs et al.⁵ Reports of familial Addison's disease have been reviewed. Fleming and Miller⁶and Croom,⁷in 1900 and 1909, respectively, reported family members who were weak and pigmented and who were felt on the basis of clinical observation to have Addison's disease. Rolleston⁸mentions the syndrome as occurring in two sisters. Smith and Higgins⁹diagnosed the disease in two brothers because of pigmentation and decreased serum sodium. Wakefield and Smith¹⁰reported an excessively pigmented man who at autopsy had adrenal atrophy, possibly secondary to