HIPOADRENOCORTICISMO PRIMARIO CANINO: REPORTE DE CASO

six month old, male cocker spaniel was presented to the small animal clinic at the universidad nacional de colombia with a one week history of vomiting and diarrhea. the patient was hyperkalemic and the electrocardiogram results were consistent with this finding. the diagnosis of primary hypoadrenocorticism was confirmed by performing an acth stimulation test. following the patient’s sudden death, micros copic examination of the adrenal glands revealed histologic changes consistent with addison`s disease. primary hypoadrenocorticism is an uncommon endocrine disorder that primarily affects canine patients. the disorder is caracterized by the immune-mediated destruction of the adrenal cortices, resulting in mineralocorticoid, glucocorticoid and adrenal sex hormone deficiencies. patient history is variable and clinical signs are often nonspecific; laboratory testing commonly reveals hyperkalemia and hyponatremia resulting from lack of aldosterone secretion. clinical history, physical exam, abdominal ultrasound and laboratory findings may indicate addison disease, however, the adrenocorticotrophic hormone (acth) stimulation test is considered to be the gold standard for definitive diagnosis of primary hypoadrenocortisism. addison disease is not curable but can be managed with pharmaceutical therapy that replaces the mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids deficiency.