Autoimmune Polyendocrine Syndrome Type II

Many conditions and symptoms are associated with this disorder. The symptoms may vary greatly among affected individuals.

Addison’s disease is a rare disorder characterized by chronic? and insufficient functioning of the outer layer of the adrenal gland (adrenal cortex). Patients with Addison’s disease have a deficiency in the production of glucocorticoid hormones which are manufactured by the adrenal gland. These hormones (especially cortisol and aldosterone) are involved in carbohydrates, fat and protein metabolism, carbohydrate and blood sugar storage, and they fight infection?, or irritation, often causing pain?, swelling?, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।" data-rx-term="inflammation" data-rx-definition="Inflammation is the body’s response to injury, infection, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।">inflammation? and suppress the immune response. The deficiency in glucocorticoids causes an increased release of sodium and decreased release of potassium in the urine, sweat, saliva, stomach, and intestines. These changes can cause low blood pressure and increased water excretion which can lead to severe dehydration?.

PAS-2 patients may present with vague symptoms of weight loss?, fatigue?, nausea?, vomiting?, generalized weakness?, anorexia, abdominal pain, diarrhea?, polyuria?, and polydipsia. Common signs in these patients may include mucosal and cutaneous hyperpigmentation low blood glucose levels and orthostatic hypotension? if Addison disease is the diagnosis? or polyuria and polydipsia with hyperglycemia? if T1DM is present. thyroid? gland makes too little hormone. সহজ বাংলা: থাইরয়েড হরমোন কম।" data-rx-term="hypothyroidism" data-rx-definition="Hypothyroidism means the thyroid gland makes too little hormone. সহজ বাংলা: থাইরয়েড হরমোন কম।">Hypothyroidism? can present with bradycardia?, and delayed tendon? reflexes.

Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) is a disorder that can be genetic or acquired and may occur alone or as a symptom of another illness. Major symptoms may include the development of an enlarged thyroid gland in the neck, a dull facial expression, puffiness and swelling around the eyes, drooping eyelids, thinning hair which is coarse and dry, and poor memory. Hypothyroidism can be caused by disorders of the hypothalamus or pituitary centers in the brain, disorders that affect control of the thyroid hormone, blockage in the metabolic process of transporting thyroid, or iodine in the thyroid gland itself, or the result of a hereditary disorder called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune disorder in which the body’s natural defenses against invading organisms (i.e., antibodies, lymphocytes, etc.) suddenly begin to attack healthy tissue. (For more information on these disorders chooses “Hypothyroidism” and “Hashimoto” as your search terms in the Rare Disease Database).

Some (but not all) of the following additional findings may be present in patients with autoimmune polyendocrine type II :

Diabetes mellitus: This type of diabetes generally starts during childhood or adolescence. The starches and sugars (carbohydrates) in the foods we eat are normally processed by digestive juices into glucose. The glucose circulates in the blood as a major energy source for body functions. A hormone produced by the pancreas (insulin) regulates the body’s use of glucose. In diabetes mellitus, the pancreas does not manufacture the correct amount of insulin needed to metabolize sugar. As a result, the patient needs daily injections of insulin to regulate blood sugar levels. Symptoms of this disorder may be frequent urination, extreme thirst, constant hunger, weight loss, itching of the skin, vision changes, slow healing of cuts and bruises, and in children there is a failure to grow and develop normally. (For more information on this disorder choose “Insulin-Dependent Diabetes” as your search term in the Rare Disease Database).

Hypoparathyroidism: This disorder causes lower than normal levels of calcium in the blood due to insufficient levels of parathyroid hormones. This condition can be inherited, associated with other disorders, or the result of a neck injury. Symptoms of hypoparathyroidism may be a weakness, muscle cramps, abnormal sensations of the hands such as burning and numbness, excessive nervousness, loss of memory, headaches, cramping of wrists and feet, and spasms in facial muscles. (For more information on this disorder choose “Hypoparathyroidism” as your search term in the Rare Disease Database).

Gonadal failure: This refers to the failure of the organ that produces sex cells (gonads-or testes in the male, and ovaries in the female) to function properly causing an absence of secondary sex characteristics.

Pernicious anemia: This is a blood disorder resulting from impaired absorption of vitamin B-12. This vitamin is used in the production of red blood cells. Healthy individuals absorb sufficient amounts of vitamin B-12 in their normal diet with the help of a substance secreted by the stomach called intrinsic factor. Patients with pernicious anemia generally lack intrinsic factors and can not absorb sufficient amounts of vitamin B-12. Symptoms of vitamin B-12 deficiency usually appear years after absorption of the vitamin ceases because B-12 is stored in large quantities in the liver. Symptoms of this disorder may be shortness of breath, fatigue, weakness, rapid heartbeat, angina, anorexia, abdominal pain, indigestion, and possibly intermittent constipation and diarrhea. (For more information on this disorder choose “Pernicious Anemia” as your search term in the Rare Disease Database).

Vitiligo: This is a skin condition in which there is an absence of pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) causing decreased pigmentation of the skin. These “white spots” on the skin appear most often on the face, neck, hands, abdomen, and thighs although they may appear on all parts of the skin. Vitiligo is sometimes familial, but the exact model of heredity is not yet understood. (For more information on this disorder choose “Vitiligo” as your search term in the Rare Disease Database).

Celiac sprue: This chronic hereditary intestinal malabsorption disorder is caused by intolerance to gluten. The most common symptoms of this disorder are weight loss, chronic diarrhea, abdominal cramping and bloating intestinal gas and abdominal distention, and muscle wasting. Celiac sprue is a hereditary congenital disorder. Gluten is a protein that is present in wheat, oats, barley, rye, and probably millet. Patients with celiac sprue cannot properly absorb a part of gluten called gliadin. This causes intestinal abnormalities as well as physiological deficiencies. Although the disorder begins in infancy, it is sometimes not diagnosed until the patient reaches adulthood. (For more information on this disorder choose “Celiac Sprue” as your search term in the Rare Disease Database).

Myasthenia gravis: Sometimes this disorder can be associated with autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type II. Myasthenia gravis is a chronic neuromuscular disease characterized by weakness and abnormally rapid fatigue of the voluntary muscles, with improvement following rest. Any group of muscles may be affected, but those around the eyes and the muscles used for swallowing are the most commonly involved. (For more information on this disorder choose “Myasthenia Gravis” as your search term in the Rare Disease Database).

Grave’s disease: This is a disorder that affects the thyroid gland. It is thought to occur as a result of an imbalance in the immune system. This disorder causes increased thyroid secretion (hyperthyroidism), enlargement of the thyroid gland, and protrusion of the eyeballs. The exact cause of this disorder is not known. It is thought to be inherited as an autosomal recessive trait.