Adrenal Insufficiency Associated Cardiomyopathy, From Molecule to Clinic: A Comprehensive Review.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Adrenal insufficiency (AI), the lack of glucocorticoids (GCs) production or function with or without a lack of mineralocorticoids (MCs) and adrenal androgens, can result in uncommon but life-threatening complications like shock, circulatory failure, syncope, arrhythmias, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), and congestive heart failure (CHF). In this article, we aim to comprehensively review the cardiomyopathy (CMP) secondary to AI.

METHODS

This review focused on CMP secondary to AI. A systematic search was conducted in Pubmed, GoogleScholar, and Embase. The relevant articles were included in this review.

RESULTS

All three kinds of AI-primary, secondary, and tertiary-have been associated with CMP. AI can cause takotsubo CMP, lethal arrhythmias, and DCM. There have been reports of CMP in all three kinds of AI: primary, secondary, and tertiary. AI can manifest as newly developed systolic HF and contribute to cardiovascular disease. When adrenal replacement therapy is started in patients with adrenal failure, heart function improves quickly. Early detection could stop this phenomenon from happening again.

CONCLUSION

Herein, we provided an overview of AI-associated CMP regarding underlying causes, pathophysiology, associated symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of AI-associated CMP. Adrenal replacement therapy can quickly improve heart function. More research is needed to explore the effects of GCs and MCs on the heart and to better understand associated conditions.