Bilateral adrenal hemorrhage: An overlooked cause of hypotension

A Rare and Unusual Case of Hypernatremic Dehydration in a Newborn Presenting With Adrenal Haemorrhage and Leading to Acute Kidney Injury

Adrenal haemorrhage, although a rare entity in the neonatal period, is a known complication of birth asphyxia. Adrenal haemorrhage progresses differently depending on the type and extent of the glands involved. Adrenal haemorrhage can cause persistent jaundice, fever, dehydration, scrotal swelling, abdominal wall discolouration, septicemia, and a shock-like state. Here, we report the case of a four-day-old male infant who presented with jaundice, poor feeding, and hypernatremic dehydration. The patient developed acute kidney injury and, eventually, renal failure due to adrenal haemorrhage. He had an abdominal lump with deranged renal parameters along with hyperbilirubinemia. Abdominal ultrasonography and contrast computed tomography scan showed left suprarenal enlargement with evidence of adrenal haemorrhage. The patient was managed well with ventilatory support and peritoneal dialysis and discharged successfully. A subsequent follow-up showed complete resolution of the adrenal haemorrhage. Single ultrasonography is a good modality for diagnosis but not sufficient, so serial ultrasonography at subsequent follow-up is a must.

Bilateral adrenal haemorrhage after a high energetic trauma: a case report and review of current literature

Most adrenal injuries are asymptomatic. In traumatic events, adrenal haemorrhage is very likely to be accompanied by injuries to other organs. Isolated adrenal injury after trauma is very rare and mostly unilateral. We report a case of a 44-year-old male who suffered a major traffic accident with multiple trauma, including a bilateral adrenal haemorrhage. This caused a primary adrenal insufficiency, as proven with a cortisol stimulation test with synthetic corticotrophin. Bilateral adrenal haemorrhage is a very rare but potentially fatal disorder and should not be missed. This case illustrates that early diagnosis and prompt treatment with hydrocortisone may contribute to a beneficial outcome.

Idiopathic adrenal hematoma mimicking neoplasia: A case report

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Adrenal haemorrhage is a relatively rare condition.

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An adrenal hematoma should be kept in mind when adrenal masses assessing.

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In idiopathic adrenal hematoma cases, there is not a specific ethology.

Introduction

Adrenal haemorrhage is a relatively rare condition. If there is not a specific ethology describing adrenal hematoma, then, this is termed as ‘idiopathic adrenal hematoma’.

Presentation of case

We presented a case of idiopathic adrenal hematoma in this study. A 62-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for evaluation of a 40 mm mass in the left upper abdominal cavity. The histopathological findings of the surgical specimen revealed a hematoma with normal adrenal tissue.

Discussion

The incidence of adrenal haemorrhage was found to be 1.1% regarding autopsy results. The Adrenal gland is highly vascular and vulnerable to haemorrhage. Before a surgical operation, it is difficult to diagnose idiopathic adrenal hematomas.

Conclusion

An adrenal hematoma should be kept in mind when adrenal masses assessing.

A CASE OF SPONTANEOUS REGRESSION OF IDIOPATHIC BILATERAL ADRENAL HEMORRHAGE IN A MIDDLE AGED WOMAN: 1 YEAR FOLLOW-UP

Background

Bilateral adrenal hemorrhage is a serious condition that can result in adrenal insufficiency, shock, acute adrenal crisis, and mortality if it is not managed with adequate treatment. We report a rare case of idiopathic bilateral adrenal hemorrhage.

Case presentation

A 50-year-old woman visited our hospital with complaints of right upper abdominal pain. A computed tomography (CT) revealed unilateral left adrenal gland hemorrhage. However, the results of rapid adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test and adrenomedullary hormone function test were normal. Since the patient did not show signs of adrenal insufficiency, corticosteroid therapy was postponed and only supportive management therapy was started. After 1 week, a follow- up CT showed a previously unseen adrenal hemorrhage on the right adrenal gland, but the rapid ACTH stimulation test result was normal. One year later, no hemorrhagic signs were observed on the follow-up CT.

Conclusion

In most cases of idiopathic bilateral adrenal hemorrhage, patients are treated with steroid replacement therapy due to adrenal insufficiency. In some other cases, patients are treated with steroids despite the absence of adrenal insufficiency. Here we reported a very rare case of idiopathic bilateral adrenal hemorrhage sequentially to emphasize that before initiation of adrenal hormone replacement therapy, it is important to determine whether adrenal insufficiency is present. If there is no evidence of adrenal insufficiency, adrenal replacement therapy should be postponed until the presence of adrenal insufficiency is confirmed.

Idiopathic bilateral adrenal hemorrhage in a 63-year-old male: a case report and review of the literature

Adrenal hemorrhage is a largely uncommon condition typically caused by a number of factors including infection, MI, CHF, anticoagulants, trauma, surgery, and antiphospholipid syndrome. Yet, idiopathic bilateral hemorrhage is rare. The authors present a case of a 63-year-old male who presented with abdominal pain that was eventually diagnosed as bilateral adrenal hemorrhages due to an unknown origin. Abdominal CT revealed normal adrenal glands without enlargement, but an MRI displayed enlargement due to hemorrhage in both adrenals. There was no known cause; the patient had not suffered from an acute infection and was not on anticoagulants, and the patient's history did not reveal any of the other known causative factors. The case underscores the importance of keeping bilateral adrenal hemorrhages on the list of differentials even when a cause is not immediately clear. It also raises the question of whether CT is the most sensitive test in the diagnosis of adrenal hemorrhage and whether the diagnostic approach should place greater weight on MRI. The case highlights the need for prompt therapy with steroids once bilateral hemorrhage is suspected to avert the development or progression of adrenal insufficiency.

Restoration of adrenal function after bilateral adrenal damage due to heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT): a case report

Introduction

Patients with bilateral adrenal damage due to heparin-induced thrombocytopenia usually need lifelong steroid substitution. So far, no data exists about the natural evolution of such a condition, especially about adrenal function recovery and the real need for lifelong steroids.

Case presentation

An 81-year-old Caucasian woman with bilateral adrenal damage due to heparin-induced thrombocytopenia presented with fever and severe hypotension. Adrenal failure was confirmed biologically and radiologically. She eventually recovered her adrenal function, allowing for steroid withdrawal.

Conclusions

This case report addresses the different mechanisms of adrenal damage due to heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and its natural evolution with potential recovery. This should encourage clinicians to evaluate the real necessity for lifelong corticosteroid substitution in such a condition.

Bilateral adrenal haemorrhage leading to adrenal crisis

A 77-year-old man presented with an acute worsening of chronic back pain. CT showed dense bilateral adrenal glands suggestive of adrenal haemorrhage which was confirmed by MRI. Despite appropriate glucocorticoid replacement for adrenal insufficiency, 7 days after admission this patient suffered an adrenal crisis. Owing to the timely diagnosis, appropriate treatment was given and the patient survived. Large bilateral adrenal haemorrhage however, can lead to cardiovascular collapse and death if not appropriately diagnosed and managed promptly. Despite its rarity, bilateral adrenal haemorrhage should always be considered as a differential for back pain in the setting of an acute illness due to its potentially fatal consequences.

Idiopathic bilateral adrenal haemorrhage related to acute adrenal insufficiency

A 54-year-old woman presented with sudden epigastralgia and left back pain. She had no significant history. Laboratory data showed mild inflammation and no liver or renal dysfunction. Abdominal CT showed left adrenal enlargement and haemorrhage. Hydrocortisone therapy was started to prevent adrenal insufficiency before laboratory findings for ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone) and cortisol levels. On the second hospital day, abdominal CT showed additional right adrenal enlargement and haemorrhage. The serum cortisol level suggested adrenal insufficiency. No specific findings were detected by bilateral adrenal angiography. 6 to 12 months later, abdominal CT showed decreased bilateral adrenal haemorrhage. This case illustrates the importance of prompt diagnosis and treatment of acute adrenal insufficiency, and shows sequential changes in the size of bilateral adrenal haemorrhage. Rapid corticosteroid replacement is important if acute adrenal insufficiency is suspected. In a case with unilateral adrenal haemorrhage, the possibility of additional adrenal haemorrhage on the opposite side should also be considered.

Bilateral adrenal hemorrhage: the unrecognized cause of hemodynamic collapse associated with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia

OBJECTIVE

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia is a common adverse effect of treatment with heparin resulting in paradoxical thromboses. An immunoglobulin G class "heparin-induced thrombocytopenia antibody" attaches to a heparin-platelet factor 4 protein complex. The antibody then binds to the FcγIIa receptor on the surface of a platelet, resulting in activation, consumption, and thrombocytopenia in the clinical syndrome of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. In contradistinction to other drug-induced thrombocytopenias that lead to a risk of hemorrhage, the state of thrombocytopenia in heparin-induced thrombocytopenia leads to an acquired hypercoagulability syndrome. Bilateral adrenal hemorrhage associated with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia has become an increasingly documented association. The adrenal gland has a vascular construction that lends itself to venous thrombus in the setting of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and subsequent arterial hemorrhage. A literature search revealed 17 reported cases of bilateral adrenal hemorrhage in the setting of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia uniformly presenting with complete hemodynamic collapse.

DATA SOURCES

An Ovid MEDLINE search of the English-language medical literature was conducted, identifying articles describing cases of bilateral adrenal hemorrhage in the setting of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.

STUDY SELECTION

All cases with this association were included in the review.

DATA EXTRACTION AND DATA SYNTHESIS

A total of 14 articles were identified, describing 17 individual case reports of bilateral adrenal hemorrhage associated with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. All cases confirmed known characteristics of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and uniformly revealed hypotension due to adrenal insufficiency. There were five deaths, resulting in an overall mortality rate of 27.8%, and 100% mortality in the three cases where adrenal insufficiency went unrecognized.

CONCLUSIONS

The secondary complication of adrenal vein thrombosis leading to bilateral adrenal hemorrhage remains insufficiently recognized and undertreated. The nonspecific presentation of adrenal hemorrhage and insufficiency as a complication of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, coupled with the catastrophic clinical course of untreated adrenal collapse, requires a high index of suspicion to achieve rapid diagnosis and provide life-saving therapy.

Clinical update on the management of adrenal hemorrhage

Adrenal hemorrhage is a rare yet potentially life-threatening event that occurs both in traumatic conditions and in a variety of nontraumatic conditions. Clinical manifestations of adrenal hemorrhage can vary widely depending on the degree and rate of hemorrhage, as well as the amount of adrenal cortex compromised by hemorrhage. Although an isolated focal unilateral adrenal hemorrhage may present subclinically, massive bilateral adrenal hemorrhage may lead to rapid cardiovascular collapse and ultimately death if not diagnosed appropriately and treated quickly. Diagnosis of adrenal hemorrhage is often complicated by its nonspecific presentation and tendency to occur in the setting of acute illness and other complicating medical conditions. This article outlines the variety of clinical situations in which adrenal hemorrhage can occur, summarizes the appropriate diagnostic tests available, and reviews the appropriate management of adrenal hemorrhage.

Choque séptico puerperal por Streptococcus β-hemolítico e síndrome de Waterhouse-Friderichsen

É relatado caso excepcional de puérpera de 15 anos com choque séptico pelo Streptococcus beta-hemolítico do grupo A e síndrome de Waterhouse-Friderichsen, observado à necropsia. São revistos aspectos do diagnóstico, patogênese e evolução da infecção (sepse) puerperal associada à hemorragia e insuficiência das supra-renais.