Diagnosing and managing adrenal crisis in pregnancy: A case report

Abstract

There is a paucity of literature regarding diagnosing adrenal insufficiency in pregnancy. Adrenal crisis in pregnancy can present with symptoms similar to severe nausea and vomiting of pregnancy or hyperemesis gravidarum. Additionally, several critical laboratory tests to support the proper diagnosis require time that acute patients cannot always afford. In this patient's case, the diagnosis was made empirically with improvement after glucocorticoid administration, and was later confirmed by laboratory testing. This case highlights the importance of including adrenal insufficiency in the differential diagnosis of hyperemesis patients in order to quickly manage and treat these often acutely and severely ill patients.