Antonie Philips*, Sara Beckham
Pregnancy causes significant changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and adrenal gland function. Some of these changes have clinical features that are similar to adrenal gland disorders. While adrenal disorders are uncommon in pregnant women, they have the potential to cause significant morbidity if they go undiagnosed and untreated. Because the majority of patients with adrenal disorders present with clinical features consistent with normal pregnancy, diagnosis during pregnancy is not uncommon. These disorders require a high level of suspicion because they can have serious obstetrical consequences. This review will go over the normal function of the adrenal glands during pregnancy as well as the role of adrenal hormones during pregnancy.
We will discuss the most common adrenal disorders that occur during pregnancy and review the literature on treatment options. Pregnancy causes significant changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and adrenal gland function. Some of these changes have clinical characteristics similar to adrenal gland disorders.
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