Dental OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) Practice Exam

Which symptom may NOT be typically associated with an adrenal crisis?

1. Severe fatigue

2. Rapid weight loss

3. High blood pressure

4. Severe vomiting

The correct answer is: High blood pressure

An adrenal crisis occurs when there is an acute insufficiency of adrenal hormones, particularly cortisol. This condition can lead to various symptoms due to the lack of these crucial hormones. Among the symptoms typically associated with an adrenal crisis are severe fatigue, rapid weight loss, and severe vomiting. These symptoms stem from the body's inability to respond to stress and maintain essential physiological functions. In a typical adrenal crisis, severe fatigue often results from the body's inability to adequately mobilize energy stores and manage metabolic processes. Rapid weight loss can occur due to certain factors, including decreased appetite and increased muscle breakdown as the body seeks alternative energy sources. Severe vomiting can be a direct consequence of the physiological stress that accompanies an adrenal crisis. In contrast, high blood pressure is generally not a symptom of an adrenal crisis. Instead, the adrenal crisis is more commonly linked to hypotension (low blood pressure) due to insufficient adrenal hormone levels, particularly aldosterone, which helps regulate blood pressure. Therefore, the presence of high blood pressure does not align with the expected clinical presentation of an adrenal crisis.