BOF: 3.16
A 39-year-old Asian male is admitted with a history of
vomiting and abdominal pain. The patient has been unwell and anorexic for some
time prior to admission. On examination the patient looks unwell, is febrile,
tachycardic and hypotensive. The skin is pigmented and lacks turgor and the
eyes look sunken. The buccal mucosa, and skin creases are pigmented. The
abdomen feels rigid.
Investigations reveal an elevated blood urea with low
serum sodium and high serum potassium. There is hypercalcaemia and
hypoglycaemia.
The feature that will help to differentiate primary
glandular failure from secondary glandular failure is:
a)
Hyperkalaemia
b)
Elevated eosinophil count
c)
Anaemia
d)
Fever
e) Hypoglycaemia
