scholarly journals The European Registry on Cushing's syndrome: 2-year experience. Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics

2011 ◽  
Vol 165 (3) ◽  
pp. 383-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Valassi ◽  
Alicia Santos ◽  
Maria Yaneva ◽  
Miklós Tóth ◽  
Christian J Strasburger ◽  
...  

ObjectiveThe European Registry on Cushing's syndrome (ERCUSYN) is designed to collect prospective and follow-up data at EU level on Cushing's syndrome (CS).Design and methodsBaseline data on 481 CS patients (390 females, 91 males; mean age (±s.d.): 44±14 years) collected from 36 centres in 23 countries, including new patients from 2008 and retrospective cases since 2000. Patients were divided into four major aetiologic groups: pituitary-dependent CS (PIT-CS) (66%), adrenal-dependent CS (ADR-CS) (27%), CS from an ectopic source (ECT-CS) (5%) and CS from other aetiologies (2%).ResultsProportion of men in the ECT-CS group was higher than in the other groups (P<0.05). The ADR-CS group was older than the PIT-CS (P<0.05). Prevalence of hirsutism (92%) and diabetes (74%) in ECT-CS was higher than in the other groups (P<0.05 and P<0.01 respectively). PIT-CS had more skin alterations, menstrual irregularities and hirsutism than ADR-CS (P<0.01). Reduced libido was more prevalent in men than women (P<0.01). Prevalence of spine osteoporosis was higher in men than women (P<0.05), and males had more vertebral and rib fractures than females (52 vs 18% for vertebrae; P<0.001 and 34 vs 23% for ribs; P<0.05). ECT-CS consulted a diabetologist more frequently than ADR-CS (P<0.05), while a gynaecologist was consulted more often by women with PIT-CS or ADR-CS than with ECT-CS (P<0.05). Overall, weight gain was more common in women than men (P<0.01). CushingQoL and EuroQoL visual analogue scale scores did not differ between the groups.ConclusionsThe ERCUSYN project demonstrates a heterogeneous clinical presentation of CS at a European level, depending on gender and aetiology.

2019 ◽  
Vol 181 (5) ◽  
pp. 461-472 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Valassi ◽  
Antoine Tabarin ◽  
Thierry Brue ◽  
Richard A Feelders ◽  
Martin Reincke ◽  
...  

Objective Patients with Cushing’s syndrome (CS) have increased mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the causes and time of death in a large cohort of patients with CS and to establish factors associated with increased mortality. Methods In this cohort study, we analyzed 1564 patients included in the European Registry on CS (ERCUSYN); 1045 (67%) had pituitary-dependent CS, 385 (25%) adrenal-dependent CS, 89 (5%) had an ectopic source and 45 (3%) other causes. The median (IQR) overall follow-up time in ERCUSYN was 2.7 (1.2–5.5) years. Results Forty-nine patients had died at the time of the analysis; 23 (47%) with pituitary-dependent CS, 6 (12%) with adrenal-dependent CS, 18 (37%) with ectopic CS and two (4%) with CS due to other causes. Of 42 patients whose cause of death was known, 15 (36%) died due to progression of the underlying disease, 13 (31%) due to infections, 7 (17%) due to cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease and 2 due to pulmonary embolism. The commonest cause of death in patients with pituitary-dependent CS and adrenal-dependent CS were infectious diseases (n = 8) and progression of the underlying tumor (n = 10) in patients with ectopic CS. Patients who had died were older and more often males, and had more frequently muscle weakness, diabetes mellitus and ectopic CS, compared to survivors. Of 49 deceased patients, 22 (45%) died within 90 days from start of treatment and 5 (10%) before any treatment was given. The commonest cause of deaths in these 27 patients were infections (n = 10; 37%). In a regression analysis, age, ectopic CS and active disease were independently associated with overall death before and within 90 days from the start of treatment. Conclusion Mortality rate was highest in patients with ectopic CS. Infectious diseases were the commonest cause of death soon after diagnosis, emphasizing the need for careful clinical vigilance at that time, especially in patients presenting with concomitant diabetes mellitus.


2008 ◽  
Vol 159 (5) ◽  
pp. 569-576 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Reimondo ◽  
Silvia Bovio ◽  
Barbara Allasino ◽  
Silvia De Francia ◽  
Barbara Zaggia ◽  
...  

ObjectiveIt remains to be evaluated whether the combined low-dose dexamethasone suppression corticotropin-releasing hormone test (LDDST-CRH test) may add to the diagnostic approach of patients suspected to have Cushing's syndrome (CS). The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether the LDDST-CRH test may have a place in the diagnostic strategy of CS.DesignProspective evaluation of a consecutive series of patients with suspected CS from 2004 to 2006.MethodsAll the subjects underwent the same screening protocol including 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test, 24-h urinary free cortisol (UFC), and midnight serum cortisol, followed by the LDDST-CRH test whose results were not used to establish a definitive diagnosis. Plasma dexamethasone concentration was measured 2 h after the last dose of dexamethasone. Patients qualified for CS when at least two screening tests were positive.ResultsSixteen patients had CS while in the remaining 15 subjects CS was excluded. Even if not statistically significant, the sensitivity and the negative predictive value of the cortisol 15 min after CRH were better than the other tests; on the other hand, the test specificity was lower. All of the patients classified as indeterminate were correctly diagnosed by the LDDST-CRH test. Nevertheless, the repeated assessment of the screening tests and the active follow-up gave the same correct results. In all of the patients misclassified by the LDDST-CRH test, the plasma dexamethasone concentrations were in the normal range.ConclusionsBased on our findings, we suggest that the LDDST-CRH test may still find a place as a rule-out procedure in patients who present with indeterminate results after screening and may be unavailable to repeat testing during follow-up.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicoleta Daniela Calinescu ◽  
Amalia Ioana Arhire ◽  
Carmen Gabriela Barbu

2000 ◽  
pp. 472-476 ◽  
Author(s):  
NA Huizenga ◽  
WW De Herder ◽  
JW Koper ◽  
P de Lange ◽  
D AJ v Lely ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVE: Glucocorticoids (GCs) serve a variety of important functions throughout the body. The synthesis and secretion of GCs are under the strict influence of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis. The mechanisms of action of GCs are mediated by the intracellular glucocorticoid receptor (GR). Over the years, many studies have been performed concerning the regulation of GR expression by GC concentrations. METHODS: In the present study, we determined the characteristics of the GR in peripheral mononuclear blood leukocytes (PBML) from thirteen patients with endogenous Cushing's syndrome and fifteen control subjects, using a whole cell dexamethasone binding assay. Furthermore, cortisol concentrations were determined in order to investigate a possible relationship between serum cortisol levels and receptor characteristics. RESULTS: There were no differences in mean receptor number between patients and controls. On the other hand, a significantly lower ligand affinity was identified in cells from patients with Cushing's syndrome compared with controls. A complete normalisation of the ligand affinity was observed after treatment in the only patient tested in this respect, whereas the receptor number was not affected. In patients, there was a statistically significant negative correlation between cortisol concentrations and ligand affinity, which was not found in controls. CONCLUSION: Receptor down-regulation does not occur in PBML from patients with endogenous Cushing's syndrome. On the other hand, there seems to be a diminished ligand affinity which possibly reflects receptor modification in response to exposure to the continuously high cortisol levels in patients with Cushing's syndrome. This assumption is substantiated by the fact that in one patient a normalisation of the ligand affinity after complete remission of the disease was seen.


2013 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice Tang ◽  
Anthony J O’Sullivan ◽  
Terry Diamond ◽  
Andrew Gerard ◽  
Peter Campbell

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Farzad Najafipour ◽  
Amir Bahrami ◽  
Mitra Niafar ◽  
Jalil Houshyar ◽  
Monireh Halimi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone secretion syndrome occurs in 10% of all patients with adrenocorticotropic-hormone-dependent hypercortisolism. It is usually associated with overt malignancies or with occult and indolent tumors. This study aims to confirm the source of ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone in four patients with ectopic Cushing’s syndrome over time. Case presentation A 38-year-old Iranian man with Cushing’s syndrome underwent bilateral adrenalectomy since the source of ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone secretion was not localized and pituitary imaging was normal. A whole-body scan revealed a right-lung tumoral mass with mediastinal lymph node metastasis. The mass was assumed a lung carcinoid tumor with mediastinal adenopathy. Right-lung mid-zone lobectomy and mediastinal lymphadenectomy were done. In a 47-year-old Iranian man with Cushing’s syndrome, whole-body computed tomography scan revealed a pulmonary nodule in the posterior segment of the left lower lobe of the lung. The third case was a 25-year-old Iranian man who presented with symptoms and signs of Cushing’s syndrome. Pituitary magnetic resonance imaging revealed a microadenoma 5 × 9 mm. Whole-body scan showed abnormal focal somatostatin receptors analog avid lesion in the posterior aspect of inferior third of right lung, highly suggestive of ectopic adrenocorticotropic-hormone-producing tumor. The last case was a 43-year-old Iranian woman with Marfan syndrome with a history of mitral and aortic valve replacement and chronic dissection of the aorta, who presented with symptoms and signs of Cushing’s syndrome. She underwent bilateral adrenalectomy 1 year later owing to failure to locate ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone syndrome. Whole-body scan showed abnormally increased radiotracer uptake in the midline of the skull base and posterior aspect of the middle zone of left hemithorax and bed of left lobe of thyroid. Conclusion The clinical spectrum of ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone secretion syndrome is wide, and distinguishing Cushing’s disease from ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone secretion syndrome is difficult. Initial failure to identify a tumor is common. Pulmonary carcinoid or occult source of ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone secretion syndrome is usually the cause. In occult cases of ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone in which the tumor cannot be localized, serial follow-up with serial computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, or scintigraphy is recommended for several years until the tumor can be localized and treated.


1962 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 285-301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean Davignon ◽  
Erich Koiw ◽  
Wojciech Nowaczynski ◽  
Gilles Tremblay ◽  
Jacques Genest

The production of aldosterone and other corticosteroids by adrenal glands surgically removed from 5 normotensive subjects with renal disease of various types, 11 patients with arterial hypertension, and 2 with Cushing's syndrome was investigated in vitro by the incubation chromatographic technique. The rate of steroid formation per unit weight of tissue was markedly lower in severe and malignant hypertension and slightly higher in benign hypertension as compared with the rate in normotensive controls. The amount of steroid released varied widely from one gland to the other and showed marked overlapping between the various groups; these variations were most prominent in benign hypertension, less in the normotensive group, and least evident in severe and malignant hypertension. The response of steroidogenesis to ACTH stimulation in vitro was slightly reduced in severe and malignant hypertension. The mean output of aldosterone by adrenal glands from hypertensives was slightly above the mean value obtained with normotensive control glands. The percentage of aldosterone formation in respect to total steroid production was roughly correlated with the severity of hypertension. In four hyperplastic adrenals obtained from two cases of Cushing's syndrome, the in vitro formation of steroids per unit weight of tissue and the response to ACTH did not differ significantly from that found in glands obtained from the other patients under study. The value of in vitro studies for the assessment of the functional capacity of the adrenal cortex is discussed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. bcr-2018-228045
Author(s):  
Gurpreet Anand ◽  
Andrea Bink ◽  
Felix Beuschlein ◽  
Christoph Schmid

A 47-year-old Caucasian man was referred to our clinic with a severe clinical and biochemical phenotype of endogenous hypercortisolism for further evaluation and treatment. In addition to confirming adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-dependent Cushing’s syndrome, we found left temporal hemianopsia, massively increased prolactin, increased growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor 1 values, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and central hypothyroidism. As the cause of these abnormalities we revealed an invasive macroadenoma of the pituitary secreting ACTH, prolactin and growth hormone, resulting not only in a clinically predominant picture of Cushing’s syndrome but also causing hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and central hypothyroidism. The patient responded surprisingly well to dopamine agonist treatment leading not only to normalisation of prolactin levels but also to clinical and biochemical remission of Cushing’s syndrome. Tumour size decreased successively in follow-up MRI scans. Despite lacking immunohistochemical analysis of tumour tissue, we assume plurihormonal secretion of ACTH, prolactin and growth hormone from pituitary macroadenoma, which fortunately responded well to dopamine agonist treatment.


2010 ◽  
Vol 162 (4) ◽  
pp. 779-785 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Giordano ◽  
E Marinazzo ◽  
R Berardelli ◽  
A Picu ◽  
M Maccario ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo evaluate long-term morphological, functional, and clinical outcome in adrenal incidentalomas.Design and methodsA total of 118 patients (77 F and 47 M; age 62.3±1.0 years) with adrenal incidentalomas were evaluated at baseline and followed-up for median 3 years (range 1–10 years) by clinical, biochemical, hormonal, and morphological evaluation. Among them, six patients with diagnosis of subclinical Cushing's syndrome (SCS) underwent surgery.ResultsAt entry, 86% (n=102) of tumors were nonfunctioning (NF) and 14% (n=16) showed SCS. Comparing NF with SCS patients, a significantly higher percentage of dyslipidemia was found in the group of SCS patients (50 vs 23%,P=0.033). During follow-up, adrenal function remained normal in all NF patients, none of them developed subclinical or overt endocrine disease. The cumulative risk of mass enlargement was globally low (25%), but progressive up to 8 years. SCS was confirmed in all patients, and none of them shifted to overt Cushing's syndrome. The cumulative risk of developing metabolic–cardiovascular abnormalities was globally low (22%), but progressive up to 8 years and new diseases were recorded in the group of NF patients only (three patients with dyslipidemia, four with impaired fasting glucose/impaired glucose tolerance, and three with diabetes mellitus). SCS patients who underwent surgery did not show any significant clinical improvement.ConclusionsThe risk of mass enlargement, hormonal, and metabolic impairment over time is globally low. Conservative management seems to be appropriate, but further prospective studies are needed to establish the long-term outcome of such patients, especially for metabolic status, cardiovascular risk profile and their relationship with endocrine function.


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