CARDIAC-TAMPONADE PRECEDING ADRENAL INSUFFICIENCY - AN UNUSUAL PRESENTATION OF ADDISONS-DISEASE - A REPORT OF 2 CASES

Two cases of young healthy males presenting with cardiac tamponade and developing clinical adrenal insufficiency within a few weeks are desc ribed. On presentation they had a brisk inflammatory response with com plement activation. Both had signs of subclinical hepatitis, and both have later shown evidence of thyroid involvement. The possibility of a connection between pericarditis and adrenal insufficiency is discusse d.