Tuberculous adrenalitis: in regard to a recent update

Adrenalitis tuberculosa: a propósito de una actualización

Introduction: primary adrenal insufficiency (AI) was described by Thomas Addison in 1855, and the vast majority of cases were attributable to disseminated tuberculosis (TB), but TB has decreased in developed countries over time. Conversely, in developing countries, this infectious etiology remains high, especially in patients with HIV infection. Objective: to perform a narrative review of the recent literature on tuberculous adrenalitis, including the approach, management and follow-up in cases of primary adrenal insufficiency (AI). Materials and methods:  search and analysis of articles available over the past 5 years, using Health  Sciences Descriptors (DeCS), Addison´s disease, tuberculosis, primary adrenal insufficiency and adrenalitis, in Spanish in the Google scholar and LILACS databases, and in English in the PubMed and ClinicalKey databases. Conclusions: adrenal insufficiency or adrenalitis due to TB has decreased as a cause of primary AI, but in the context of the resurgence of HIV infection, TB remains an important cause of AI in developing countries. In these cases, in addition to corticosteroid replacement therapy, treatment of the specific cause is important to impact clinical response, survival and quality of life.

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