What condition is characterized by deficiencies in cortisol, androgens, and aldosterone?

Addison's disease is characterized by a deficiency in the production of several key hormones from the adrenal cortex, including cortisol, androgens, and aldosterone. This condition arises when the adrenal glands are damaged or dysfunctional, leading to insufficient hormone secretion.

In Addison's disease, the lack of cortisol can result in symptoms such as fatigue, weight loss, low blood pressure, and hypoglycemia. The deficiency in aldosterone impairs the body's ability to maintain salt and water balance, often leading to decreased sodium levels and increased potassium levels. In addition, decreased production of androgens may contribute to reduced libido and other effects, particularly in women.

The other conditions listed do not share this specific combination of hormone deficiencies. Cushing's syndrome, for example, is characterized by excess production of cortisol, not its deficiency. Secondary adrenal insufficiency pertains to inadequate stimulation of the adrenal glands by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), often due to pituitary dysfunction, but may not involve a deficiency in all these hormones as seen in Addison's disease. A pituitary adenoma, while it can lead to hormonal imbalances, typically results in excess hormone production, not deficiencies. Thus, Addison's disease distinctly represents a state of inadequate hormone production across multiple