What assessment finding indicates effective treatment in a patient with Addison's disease?

In a patient with Addison's disease, achieving a stable blood pressure is a significant indicator of effective treatment. Addison's disease often leads to adrenal insufficiency, which can cause low cortisol levels and result in symptoms such as hypotension (low blood pressure). Cortisol plays a crucial role in maintaining vascular tone and blood pressure. Therefore, when treatment is effective, it usually means that the administered glucocorticoids are adequately managing the adrenal insufficiency, allowing for improved blood pressure stability.

Weight loss is typically not a sign of effective treatment; rather, it may indicate a continuing deficiency or inadequate treatment. Increased urinary output can suggest hypernatremia or fluid volume changes, which may not directly correlate with the effectiveness of adrenal hormone replacement therapy. Low sodium levels are commonly seen in Addison's disease due to the lack of mineralocorticoids and would indicate insufficient treatment rather than effective management. Thus, stable blood pressure serves as an essential measure for assessing the success of treatment in this context.