In primary adrenal insufficiency, which hormones are typically deficient?

In primary adrenal insufficiency, also known as Addison's disease, there is a failure of the adrenal glands to produce adequate amounts of hormones, primarily cortisol and aldosterone. The adrenal cortex has layers that produce different classes of hormones; the zona fasciculata primarily produces cortisol, while the zona glomerulosa is responsible for the synthesis of aldosterone.

Cortisol plays a vital role in metabolism, immune response regulation, and maintaining blood pressure. Aldosterone is crucial for regulating sodium and potassium levels and thus plays a significant role in fluid balance and blood pressure regulation. In primary adrenal insufficiency, both of these hormones are deficient due to damage to the adrenal glands, which can arise from various causes such as autoimmune disease, infections, or metastasis.

While mineralocorticoids are a broader class of steroids that include aldosterone, primary adrenal insufficiency specifically results in the insufficiency of both cortisol and aldosterone, highlighting the critical impact on various physiological functions. Therefore, the correct response accurately reflects the hormone deficiencies characteristic of this condition.