The authors
report a case of a 56-year-old
Thai woman with a
history of recurrent
venous thrombosis,
spontaneous abortion and
Graves' disease who presented with bilateral
flank pain,
nausea,
vomiting and low-grade
fever followed by
hypotension. Adrenal crisis from bilateral adrenal
hemorrhage was diagnosed by a low
serum cortisol level during
hypotension and bilateral hyperdense oval masses in each of the
adrenal glands in a computerized tomographic study. Her
hemostatic and serologic profile was compatible with primary
antiphospholipid syndrome. Rapid improvement was observed after the
administration of intravenous
hydrocortisone. She was discharged on long-term
glucocorticoid replacement for her
primary adrenal insufficiency as well as an
anticoagulant for prevention of
thrombosis. The
antiphospholipid syndrome should be suspected in a
patient presenting with adrenal crisis without a distinct
etiology.