Final answer:
Acute adrenal crisis is primarily caused by a deficiency of corticosteroids, which can manifest severely in stress situations for individuals with Addison's disease, leading to life-threatening symptoms like hypotension and kidney failure.
Step-by-step explanation:
An acute adrenal crisis is most commonly caused by a deficiency of corticosteroids, specifically glucocorticoids such as cortisol. This condition can arise from an abrupt cessation of corticosteroid therapy or due to adrenal insufficiency, as seen in Addison's disease. An adrenal crisis is a severe and potentially life-threatening condition that includes symptoms such as weakness, nausea, hypotension, fatigue, severe abdominal pain, lower back or leg pain, and may lead to circulatory collapse and kidney failure.
Addison's disease, a type of primary adrenal insufficiency, is often caused by autoimmune destruction of the adrenal glands, where antibodies target enzymes such as 21-hydroxylase involved in steroid production. When under stress, individuals with Addison's disease are at risk of adrenal crisis, where the body's demand for cortisol exceeds the supply, leading to severe complications. Treatment involves the administration of replacement corticosteroids to manage the deficiency.