Adrenal Disorders Diagnosis & Treatment: Causes, Signs & Symptoms

Overview

The Adrenal Disorders Program in Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s Medical Specialty Institute specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions of the adrenal glands. Located above the kidneys, the adrenal glands are part of the endocrine system, and produce hormones that help the body regulate metabolism, control blood pressure, and carry out other essential functions.

The Adrenal Disorders Program’s highly trained physicians offer patients a variety of special diagnostic methods to pinpoint if they have an adrenal disorder, and to determine the best way to treat it.

What We Treat

The adrenal glands produce important hormones that regulate blood pressure, control blood sugar, burn fat and protein, and help the body react to stress, among their many functions. When a patient has an adrenal gland disorder, the glands make either too little or too much of the hormones they are responsible for. This condition can occur in patients of any age, and symptoms can include fatigue, weight gain or loss, and high blood pressure.

Causes of adrenal gland disorders include:

Genetic mutations
Tumors
Infections
Certain medications
A problem in another endocrine gland, such as the pituitary gland, which helps to regulate the adrenal gland.

Diagnosis & Treatment

The type of diagnostic tests and methods used by physicians in the Adrenal Disorders Program is dependent on each patient’s clinical examination. Surgery or medications can treat many adrenal gland disorders.

Diagnosis of Adrenal Disorders

At the first appointment, each patient is asked to give a thorough medical history. Patients may receive a hormonal evaluation and additional tests, depending upon their symptoms.

Some patients may require imaging with a CT or MRI scan to closely examine their adrenal glands. Depending on blood test and imaging results, further studies may be ordered.

The Adrenal Disorders Program in Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s Medical Specialty Institute also offers patients an advanced diagnostic test called adrenal venous sampling. This technology allows physicians to test the blood in the veins around the adrenal glands to see if they are working properly.

Treatment of Adrenal Disorders

The expert physicians in the Adrenal Disorders Program are highly trained in the latest treatment options to provide the highest standard of care to their patients, and have access to state-of-the-art treatments to meet the needs of the patients. Our caregivers put Patients First, tailoring treatment plans based on each patient’s condition and physician’s assessment. Depending on the diagnosis, examples of treatments may include:

Medication to slow down the release of excess hormones from the adrenal glands
Hormone replacement therapy (if a patient’s adrenal glands are not making enough hormones)
Surgery to remove tumors in the adrenal glands.