AACN AGACNP Review Exam 2025
Questions and Answers
Cushing's Syndrome/Disease - Correct Answer✔️✔️-cortisol excess typically caused by pituitary
adenoma 60-70% of cases.
Central obesity w/ extremity wasting.
dorsocervical fat pad.
rounded facies.
spontaneous bruising.
purple striae
hyperpigmentation
poor wound healing/ skin infections.
Dexamethasone suppression test.
1mg dexamethasone at 2300 hours and measure serum cortisol at 0800.
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
, Remove sources of excess and manage consequences ( HTN, hypokalemia, hyperglycemia.)
Addison's disease - Correct Answer✔️✔️-Primary
Caused by damage to the adrenal cortex (autoimmune, TB, metastatic disease, deposition diseases,
and drug induced) leading to a decrease in cortisol production.
Secondary
Caused by pituitary failure to release ACTH (in any hypopituitary disorder) causing a decrease in
cortisol production.
Sudden withdrawal of systemic corticosteroids leading to a decrease in cortisol production from
induced corticosteroid suppression.
diabetes insipidus (DI) - Correct Answer✔️✔️-Insufficient ADH or decreased sensitivity to ADH
Nephron cannot conserve water.
Commonly caused by damage to the pituitary gland or hypothalamus (surgery, tumor, meningitis,
head injury).
Can be nephrogenic where the kidney in unable to respond to ADH.
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
Questions and Answers
Cushing's Syndrome/Disease - Correct Answer✔️✔️-cortisol excess typically caused by pituitary
adenoma 60-70% of cases.
Central obesity w/ extremity wasting.
dorsocervical fat pad.
rounded facies.
spontaneous bruising.
purple striae
hyperpigmentation
poor wound healing/ skin infections.
Dexamethasone suppression test.
1mg dexamethasone at 2300 hours and measure serum cortisol at 0800.
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
, Remove sources of excess and manage consequences ( HTN, hypokalemia, hyperglycemia.)
Addison's disease - Correct Answer✔️✔️-Primary
Caused by damage to the adrenal cortex (autoimmune, TB, metastatic disease, deposition diseases,
and drug induced) leading to a decrease in cortisol production.
Secondary
Caused by pituitary failure to release ACTH (in any hypopituitary disorder) causing a decrease in
cortisol production.
Sudden withdrawal of systemic corticosteroids leading to a decrease in cortisol production from
induced corticosteroid suppression.
diabetes insipidus (DI) - Correct Answer✔️✔️-Insufficient ADH or decreased sensitivity to ADH
Nephron cannot conserve water.
Commonly caused by damage to the pituitary gland or hypothalamus (surgery, tumor, meningitis,
head injury).
Can be nephrogenic where the kidney in unable to respond to ADH.
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
