Synonyms of Autoimmune Polyendocrine Syndrome Type II- Diabetes Mellitus, Addison's Disease, Myxedema
- Multiple Endocrine Deficiency Syndrome, Type II
- PGA II
- Polyglandular Autoimmune Syndrome, Type II
- Polyglandular Deficiency Syndrome, Type II
- Schmidt Syndrome
Disorder Subdivisions
General DiscussionAutoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type II, also known as Schmidt syndrome, is a rare autoimmune disorder in which there is a steep drop in production of several essential hormones by the glands that secrete these hormones. When first described, this disorder was thought to involve only adrenal insufficiency (Addison?s disease) and thyroid insufficiency (Hashimoto?s thyroiditis). However, over time, as more patients were studied, the scope of the disorder was expanded to include disorders of other underperforming endocrine glands. These include the gonads, which secrete sex hormones; the pancreas which secretes insulin and is intimately tied up with diabetes mellitus; and sometimes the parathyroid glands. Failure of the endocrine glands to function is usually accompanied by signs of malnutrition because the ability of the intestinal tract to absorb nutrients is reduced dramatically. Since the combination of affected glands differs from patient to patient, the signs of this disorder are diverse.
Most cases of this disorder are sporadic although some clinical researchers believe that there is a familial or hereditary trait associated with AIPS-II. If so, it may involve a complex interaction among many genes.
Organizations related to Autoimmune Polyendocrine Syndrome Type II- American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, Inc.
22100 Gratiot Avenue
Eastpointe MI 48021
Phone #: 586-776-3900
800 #: 800-598-4668
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.aarda.org/
- American Diabetes Association
National Call Center
Alexandria VA 22311
Phone #: 703-549-1500
800 #: 800-342-2383
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.diabetes.org
- AutoImmunity Community
None
None None None
Phone #: (91-9) -552-9057
800 #: N/A
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://autoimmunitycommunity.org
- Celiac Sprue Association/USA, Inc.
P.O. Box 31700
Omaha NE 68131-0700
Phone #: 402-558-0600
800 #: 877-272-4272
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.csaceliacs.org
- Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America
1821 University Ave. W.
St. Paul MN 55104
Phone #: 651-917-6256
800 #: 800-541-5454
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.myasthenia.org
- NIH/National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse
2 Information Way
Bethesda MD 20892-3570
Phone #: 301-654-3810
800 #: 800-891-5389
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.niddk.nih.gov
- National Adrenal Diseases Foundation
505 Northern Boulevard
Great Neck NY 11021
Phone #: 516-487-4992
800 #: --
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.medhelp.org/nadf
For a Complete Report
This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ? (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html