Question

Addison disease (or adrenal cortex insufficiency) is a disorder, usually autoimmune in origin, which can cause degeneration and cell loss in the adrenal glands. Fludrocortisone is a mineralocorticoid used to treat Addison patients. Response to this drug indicates that which region of the adrenal glands was involved in the disease?

a. Medulla
b. Zona glomerulosa
c. Zona reticularis
d. Macula densa
e. Zona fasciculate

Answer 1

Fludrocortisone, used to treat Addison's disease, is a mineralocorticoid which replaces aldosterone. The positive response to this medication indicates that the zona glomerulosa of the adrenal glands was affected, as this region is responsible for producing aldosterone.

Step-by-step explanation:

Addison's disease, also known as adrenal cortex insufficiency, is generally an autoimmune disorder where the body's immune system attacks the adrenal cortex, leading to hyposecretion of hormones such as cortisol and aldosterone. Fludrocortisone is a synthetic mineralocorticoid used to replace aldosterone and treat patients with Addison's disease, which implies dysfunction of the zona glomerulosa. The zona glomerulosa is mainly responsible for producing aldosterone, a mineralocorticoid, hence a positive response to fludrocortisone indicates that this region of the adrenal glands was involved in the disease. Therefore, the correct answer is: b. Zona glomerulosa.