View source for Cushing's syndrome (patient information)

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{{Cushing's syndrome (patient information)}}

'''For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click [[Cushing's syndrome|here]]'''

{{CMG}};  '''Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief:''' Jinhui Wu, M.D.; '''Assistant Editor-In-Chief:''' Meagan Dhoerty

==Overview==
Cushing’s syndrome is a hormonal disorder caused by prolonged exposure of the body’s tissues to high levels of the hormone [[cortisol]]. Sometimes called [[hypercortisolism]], Cushing’s syndrome is relatively rare and most commonly affects adults aged 20 to 50. People who are obese and have type 2 [[diabetes]], along with poorly controlled blood glucose—also called blood sugar—and [[hypertension]], have an increased risk of developing the disorder.

==What are the Symptoms of Cushing's syndrome?==
Signs and symptoms of Cushing’s syndrome vary, but most people with the disorder have:
*Upper body [[obesity]]
*A rounded face
*Increased fat around the neck
*Relatively slender arms and legs
*Children tend to be obese with slowed growth rates.
Other signs appear in the skin, which becomes fragile and thin, bruises easily, and heals poorly. Purple or pink stretch marks may appear on the [[abdomen]], [[thigh]]s, [[buttock]]s, [[arm]]s, and [[breast]]s. The bones are weakened, and routine activities such as bending, lifting, or rising from a chair may lead to [[[backache]]s and rib or spinal column [[fracture]]s.
Women with Cushing’s syndrome usually have excess hair growth on their face, neck, chest, abdomen, and thighs. Their menstrual periods may become irregular or stop. Men may have decreased [[fertility]] with diminished or absent desire for sex and, sometimes, [[erectile dysfunction]].
Other common signs and symptoms include:
* Severe [[fatigue]]
* Weak muscles
* [[Hypertension]]
* High blood glucose
* Increased [[thirst]] and [[urination]]
* Irritability, anxiety, or [[depression]]
* A fatty hump between the shoulders

==What causes Cushing's syndrome?==
Cushing’s syndrome occurs when the body’s tissues are exposed to high levels of [[cortisol]] for too long. Many people develop Cushing’s syndrome because they take [[glucocorticoids—steroid hormone]]s that are chemically similar to naturally produced cortisol—such as prednisone for [[asthma]], [[rheumatoid]] [[arthritis]], [[lupus]], and other inflammatory diseases. [[Glucocorticoid]]s are also used to suppress the [[immune system]] after [[transplantation]] to keep the body from rejecting the new [[organ]] or tissue.
Other people develop Cushing’s syndrome because their bodies produce too much [[cortisol]]. Normally, the production of cortisol follows a precise chain of events. First, the [[hypothalamus]], a part of the [[brain]] about the size of a small sugar cube, sends [[corticotropin-releasing hormone]] (CRH) to the [[pituitary gland]]. CRH causes the pituitary to secrete [[adrenocorticotropin hormone]] (ACTH), which stimulates the [[adrenal gland]]s. When the adrenals, which are located just above the [[kidney]]s, receive the ACTH, they respond by releasing cortisol into the bloodstream.

===Pituitary Adenomas===
These benign, or noncancerous, tumors of the [[pituitary gland]] secrete extra ACTH. Most people with the disorder have a single adenoma. This form of the syndrome, known as Cushing’s disease, affects women five times more often than men.

===Ectopic ACTH Syndrome===
Some benign or, more often, cancerous tumors that arise outside the pituitary can produce ACTH. This condition is known as ectopic ACTH syndrome. Lung tumors cause more than half of these cases, and men are affected three times more often than women.

===Adrenal Tumors===
In rare cases, an abnormality of the adrenal glands, most often an [[adrenal tumor]], causes Cushing’s syndrome. Adrenal tumors are four to five times more common in women than men, and the average age of onset is about 40. Most of these cases involve noncancerous tumors of adrenal tissue called adrenal [[adenomas]], which release excess [[cortisol]] into the blood.
Adrenocortical carcinomas—adrenal cancers—are the least common cause of Cushing’s syndrome. With adrenocortical carcinomas, cancer cells secrete excess levels of several [[adrenocortical hormone]]s, including cortisol and adrenal [[androgen]]s, a type of male hormone. Adrenocortical carcinomas usually cause very high hormone levels and rapid development of symptoms.

===Familial Cushing’s Syndrome===
Most cases of Cushing’s syndrome are not inherited. Rarely, however, Cushing’s syndrome results from an inherited tendency to develop tumors of one or more endocrine glands. Endocrine glands release hormones into the bloodstream. With primary pigmented micronodular adrenal disease, children or young adults develop small cortisol-producing tumors of the adrenal glands. With [[multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1]] (MEN1), hormone-secreting tumors of the [[parathyroid gland]]s, [[pancreas]], and [[pituitary]] develop; Cushing’s syndrome in MEN1 may be due to pituitary, ectopic, or adrenal tumors.

==How to know you have Cushing's syndrome(Diagnosis)==
No single lab test is perfect and usually several are needed to conclusively diagnose Cushing's syndrome. The three most common tests used to diagnose Cushing’s syndrome are the 24-hour urinary free [[cortisol]] test, measurement of midnight plasma cortisol or late-night salivary cortisol, and the [[low-dose dexamethasone suppression test]]. Another test, the [[dexamethasone-corticotropin-releasing hormone test]], may be needed to distinguish Cushing’s syndrome from other causes of excess cortisol.
*'''24-hour urinary free cortisol level''': In this test, a person’s urine is collected several times over a 24-hour period and tested for [[cortisol]]. Levels higher than 50 to 100 micrograms a day for an adult suggest Cushing’s syndrome. The normal upper limit varies in different laboratories, depending on which measurement technique is used.
*'''Midnight plasma cortisol and late-night salivary cortisol measurements''': The midnight plasma cortisol test measures cortisol concentrations in the blood. Cortisol production is normally suppressed at night, but in Cushing’s syndrome, this suppression doesn’t occur. If the cortisol level is more than 50 nanomoles per liter (nmol/L), Cushing’s syndrome is suspected. The test generally requires a 48-hour hospital stay to avoid falsely elevated cortisol levels due to stress. However, a late-night or bedtime saliva sample can be obtained at home, then tested to determine the cortisol level. Diagnostic ranges vary, depending on the measurement technique used.
*'''Low-dose dexamethasone suppression test (LDDST)''': In the LDDST, a person is given a low dose of dexamethasone, a synthetic glucocorticoid, by mouth every 6 hours for 2 days. Urine is collected before dexamethasone is administered and several times on each day of the test. A modified LDDST uses a onetime overnight dose. Cortisol and other glucocorticoids signal the pituitary to release less ACTH, so the normal response after taking dexamethasone is a drop in blood and urine cortisol levels. If cortisol levels do not drop, Cushing’s syndrome is suspected. The LDDST may not show a drop in cortisol levels in people with depression, alcoholism, high estrogen levels, acute illness, or stress, falsely indicating Cushing’s syndrome. On the other hand, drugs such as phenytoin and phenobarbital may cause cortisol levels to drop, falsely indicating that Cushing’s is not present in people who actually have the syndrome. For this reason, physicians usually advise their patients to stop taking these drugs at least 1 week before the test.
*'''Dexamethasone-corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) test''':Some people have high cortisol levels but do not develop the progressive effects of Cushing’s syndrome, such as muscle weakness, fractures, and thinning of the skin. These people may have pseudo-Cushing’s syndrome, a condition sometimes found in people who have depression or anxiety disorders, drink excess alcohol, have poorly controlled diabetes, or are severely obese. Pseudo-Cushing’s does not have the same long-term effects on health as Cushing’s syndrome and does not require treatment directed at the endocrine glands. The dexamethasone-CRH test rapidly distinguishes pseudo-Cushing’s from mild cases of Cushing’s. This test combines the LDDST and a CRH stimulation test. In the CRH stimulation test, an injection of CRH causes the pituitary to secrete ACTH. Pretreatment with dexamethasone prevents CRH from causing an increase in cortisol in people with pseudo-Cushing’s. Elevations of cortisol during this test suggest Cushing’s syndrome.

==When to Seek Urgent Medical Care==
Call your health care provider if symptoms of syndrome develop. If you experience either of the following symptoms, seeking urgent medical care as soon as possible: 
:*Severe [[hypertension]]

==Treatment Options==
Treatment depends on the specific reason for excess [[cortisol]] and may include [[surgery]], [[radiation]], [[chemotherapy]], or the use of cortisol-inhibiting drugs. If the cause is long-term use of [[glucocorticoid hormone]]s to treat another disorder, the doctor will gradually reduce the dosage to the lowest dose adequate for control of that disorder. Once control is established, the daily dose of glucocorticoid hormones may be doubled and given on alternate days to lessen side effects. In some cases, noncorticosteroid drugs can be prescribed.

===Pituitary Adenomas===
Several therapies are available to treat the ACTH-secreting pituitary adenomas of Cushing’s disease. The most widely used treatment is surgical removal of the tumor, known as transsphenoidal adenomectomy. Using a special microscope and fine instruments, the surgeon approaches the [[pituitary gland]] through a nostril or an opening made below the upper lip. Because this procedure is extremely delicate, patients are often referred to centers specializing in this type of [[surgery]]. The success, or cure, rate of this procedure is more than 80 percent when performed by a surgeon with extensive experience. If surgery fails or only produces a temporary cure, surgery can be repeated, often with good results.
After curative pituitary surgery, the production of ACTH drops two levels below normal. This drop is natural and temporary, and patients are given a synthetic form of [[cortisol]] such as [[hydrocortisone]] or [[prednisone]] to compensate. Most people can stop this replacement therapy in less than 1 or 2 years, but some must be on it for life.
If transsphenoidal surgery fails or a patient is not a suitable candidate for [[surgery]], [[radiation therapy]] is another possible treatment. Radiation to the [[pituitary gland]] is given over a 6-week period, with improvement occurring in 40 to 50 percent of adults and up to 85 percent of children. Another technique, called stereotactic radiosurgery or [[gamma knife]] radiation, can be given in a single high-dose treatment. It may take several months or years before people feel better from radiation treatment alone. Combining radiation with cortisol-inhibiting drugs can help speed recovery.
Drugs used alone or in combination to control the production of excess cortisol are [[ketoconazole]], [[mitotane]], [[aminoglutethimide]], and [[metyrapone]]. Each drug has its own [[side effect]]s that doctors consider when prescribing medical therapy for individual patients.

===Ectopic ACTH Syndrome===
To cure the overproduction of [[cortisol]] caused by ectopic ACTH syndrome, all of the cancerous tissue that is secreting ACTH must be eliminated. The choice of cancer treatment—surgery, [[radiation]], [[chemotherapy]], [[immunotherapy]], or a combination of these treatments—depends on the type of [[cancer]] and how far it has spread. Because ACTH-secreting tumors may be small or widespread at the time of diagnosis, making them difficult to locate and treat directly, cortisol-inhibiting drugs are an important part of treatment. In some cases, if other treatments fail, surgical removal of the [[adrenal gland]]s, called [[bilateral adrenalectomy]], may replace drug therapy.

===Adrenal Tumors===
[[Surgery]] is the mainstay of treatment for benign and cancerous tumors of the [[adrenal gland]]s. Primary pigmented micronodular adrenal disease and the inherited Carney complex—primary tumors of the heart that can lead to endocrine overactivity and Cushing’s syndrome—require surgical removal of the [[adrenal gland]]s.

==Diseases With Similar Symptoms==
*[[Polycystic ovary syndrome]]
*[[Metabolic syndrome]]

==Where to find Medical Care for Cushing's syndrome==
[http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&amp;hl=en&amp;geocode=&amp;q={{urlencode:{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}|Cushing's Syndrome}}}}&amp;sll=37.0625,-95.677068&amp;sspn=65.008093,112.148438&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;ll=37.0625,-95.677068&amp;spn=91.690419,149.414063&amp;z=2&amp;source=embed Directions to Hospitals Treating Cushing's syndrome]

==What to Expect (Outook/Prognosis)==
The prognosis for those with Cushing's syndrome varies depending on the cause of the disease. Most cases of Cushing's syndrome can be cured. Many individuals with Cushing's syndrome show significant improvement with treatment, although some may find recovery complicated by various aspects of the causative illness. Some kinds of [[tumor]]s may recur.

==Sources==
*http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/cushings/cushings.htm#What_is_the_prognosis
*http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/cushingssyndrome.html
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