Addison's disease
Disease Information
Tests
How is Addison’s disease diagnosed?
Symptoms for Addison’s disease often come on slowly. In addition to a complete medical history and physical examination, diagnostic procedures for Addison's disease may include:
- laboratory blood tests to measure levels of corticosteroid hormone (cortisol) and the pituitary hormone ACTH, which regulates adrenal gland function
- an ACTH stimulation test to assess adrenal gland function
- measurement of electrolytes in the blood
Based on the results of these tests, your child’s doctor will be able to definitively diagnose whether he has Addison’s disease.
|
Spotlight on: Endocrinology research at Boston Children's Hospital |
|---|
|
Find out what Children's endocrinology researchers are working on right now. |
