🏥 USMLE Exam Prep

A 35-year-old female with known Addison's disease presents to the emergency department with severe vomiting, abdominal pain, and profound weakness. Her blood pressure is 70/40 mmHg, and she is lethargic. Labs show hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, and hypoglycemia. What is the most appropriate immediate treatment?

A Intravenous dextrose and potassium chloride
B Intravenous crystalloids and high-dose hydrocortisone
C Oral fludrocortisone and sodium chloride tablets
D Intravenous insulin and glucagon

✓ Correct Answer: Option B

This patient is experiencing an adrenal crisis, a life-threatening emergency. Immediate management involves aggressive intravenous crystalloid resuscitation for hypotension and high-dose intravenous hydrocortisone (stress-dose steroids) to replace absent cortisol. Dextrose is also often needed for hypoglycemia. Oral fludrocortisone is for chronic mineralocorticoid replacement. Insulin/glucagon is not primary.

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