scholarly journals Cortisol and Phosphate Homeostasis: Cushing’s Syndrome Is Associated With Reversible Hypophosphatemia

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ariadne Bosman ◽  
Annewieke W. van den Beld ◽  
Richard A. Feelders ◽  
M. Carola Zillikens

ObjectivesThe influence of hypercortisolism on phosphate homeostasis is relatively unknown. A few previous studies have reported on patients with Cushing’s syndrome (CS) with hypophosphatemia in whom serum phosphate normalized after initiation of treatment for CS. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of hypophosphatemia in CS, the association between the degree of hypercortisolism and serum phosphate and the change in serum phosphate after remission of CS. We compared the prevalence of hypophosphatemia in CS with the prevalence in the population-based Rotterdam Study (RS).MethodsPatients diagnosed with CS and treated at the Department of Endocrinology of Erasmus MC in the period of 2002-2020 were included and data was collected on age at diagnosis, sex, serum phosphate, calcium and potassium levels, kidney function and BMI. Using multivariate linear regression, we analyzed the association between 24h urinary free cortisol excretion (UFC) and serum phosphate. Changes in serum phosphate and covariates were tested with a repeated measurement ANOVA, using mean levels of laboratory values for the periods before remission, and 0-14 days and 15-180 days after remission.ResultsHypophosphatemia before treatment was present in 16% of the 99 CS patients with data on serum phosphate, 24h UFC and covariates. In comparison, the prevalence of hypophosphatemia in RS was 2.0-4.2%. Linear regression showed a negative association between the level of UFC and serum phosphate at diagnosis, which remained significant after adjusting for covariates [β -0.002 (95%CI -0.004; -0.0004), p=0.021]. A subset of 24 patients had additional phosphate measurements at 0-14 days and 15-180 days after remission. In this subgroup, serum phosphate significantly increased from 1.03 ± 0.17 mmol/L prior to remission to 1.22 ± 0.25 mmol/L 15-180 days after remission (p = 0.008). BMI decreased after remission [-1.1 kg/m2, (95%CI -2.09 to -0.07), p=0.037]. Other covariates did not show an equivalent change over time.ConclusionIn this retrospective study, we found that 16% of patients with CS had hypophosphatemia. Moreover, serum phosphate was related to the level of cortisoluria and increased after remission of CS. Potential underlying mechanisms related to urinary phosphate excretion and possibly involving FGF23, BMI and parathyroid hormone levels should be further explored.

2017 ◽  
Vol 176 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dania Hirsch ◽  
Gloria Tsvetov ◽  
Yossi Manisterski ◽  
Nirit Aviran-Barak ◽  
Varda Nadler ◽  
...  

Objective To investigate the incidence of Cushing’s syndrome (CS) in patients with significant hypercortisoluria and the performance of urinary free cortisol (UFC) screening. Design Retrospective file review. Methods The computerized database of a publicly funded health maintenance organization (HMO) in Israel was searched for all patients who underwent 24-h UFC testing in 2005–2014 with a result of more than twice the upper limit of normal (ULN). The patients’ medical files were reviewed for a subsequent diagnosis of CS by an expert endocrinologist. Findings were evaluated for patterns in CS diagnosis and UFC testing over time. Results Of 41 183 individuals tested, 510 (1.2%) had UFC >2× ULN (214 >3× ULN). Eighty-five (16.7%) individuals were diagnosed with CS (63 female and mean age 47.2 ± 15.1 years), mainly Cushing’s disease (55.3%) or adrenal Cushing’s syndrome (37.6%). The number of UFC tests increased steadily, from 1804 in 2005 to 6464 in 2014; yet, the resultant detection rate of CS remained generally stable. The calculated incidence of CS in the general HMO-insured population based only on the patients identified in the present cohort was 4.5 new cases/million/year (median 4.9/million/year, range 1.7–5.9/million/year), which was also relatively stable. The most common reason for referral for UFC screening was obesity. Of the 148 patients before bariatric surgery with UFC >2× ULN, 2 were diagnosed with CS. Conclusions The incidence of CS is higher than previously suggested. The consistently increasing number of UFC tests being performed has not been accompanied by a similar increase in CS detection rate. The expected yield of routine UFC testing before bariatric surgery is low.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Hanafy ◽  
Chinnadorai Rajeswaran ◽  
Saad Saddiq ◽  
Warren Gillibrand ◽  
John Stephenson

Author(s):  
Hiroaki Iwasaki

Summary A 45-year-old female was referred for endocrine evaluation of an incidental mass (31×24 mm in diameter) on the right adrenal gland. The patient was normotensive and nondiabetic, and had no history of generalised obesity (body weight, 46 kg at 20 years of age and 51.2 kg on admission); however, her waist-to-hip ratio was 0.97. Elevated urinary free cortisol levels (112–118 μg/day) and other findings indicated adrenocorticotrophic hormone-independent Cushing's syndrome due to right adrenocortical adenoma. Echocardiography before adrenalectomy revealed concentric left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy with a particular increase in interventricular septum thickness leading to impaired systolic and diastolic functions. Upon surgical remission of hypercortisolism, the asymmetric hypertrophy disappeared and the cardiac dysfunctions were considerably ameliorated. Although the mechanism(s) by which excessive cortisol contributes to LV wall thickness remain(s) unclear, serial echocardiography and cardiac multidetector-row computed tomography may support the notion that abnormal fat deposition in the myocardium owing to hypercortisolism appears to be an important factor for the reversible change in the cardiac morphology. Learning points Patients with Cushing's syndrome occasionally exhibit severe LV hypertrophy related to systolic and diastolic dysfunctions although they have neither hypertension nor diabetes mellitus. Biological remission of hypercortisolism can normalise structural and functional cardiac parameters and help in differentiating the cardiac alterations induced by excessive cortisol from those induced by other diseases. Excessive lipid accumulation within the heart before myocardial fibrosis may be implicated in reversible alterations in the cardiac morphology by Cushing's syndrome. Early diagnosis and treatment of Cushing's syndrome appear to be pivotal in preventing irreversible cardiac dysfunctions subsequent to cardiovascular events and heart failure.


1973 ◽  
Vol 19 (9) ◽  
pp. 1067-1068 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karl W Schmitt ◽  
Roger Juselius ◽  
James Hanlon ◽  
David Steed

Abstract Of the chemical tests used, we found that values for urinary free cortisol had the best clinical correlation and were the most sensitive indicator of cortisol secretion in a patient with Cushing’s syndrome who was treated with amino-glutethimide.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Wasita Warachit Parksook ◽  
Nitchakarn Laichuthai ◽  
Sarat Sunthornyothin

The most common subtype of endogenous Cushing’s syndrome (CS) is Cushing’s disease (CD), with higher proportions of adrenal CS reported from Asia, compared to other continents. However, little was known about CS in this territory. This study was to investigate the distribution, clinical characteristics, and treatment outcomes of CS in a single tertiary hospital in Thailand. We performed a retrospective evaluation of 82 patients with endogenous CS during 2001–2015. The most common subtype was CD, followed by adrenal CS and ectopic ACTH syndrome (EAS), respectively. Weight gain was the most common presentation. Normal body mass index (BMI), Asian cutoff, was observed in 33% of patients. Specific features of CS (plethora, muscle weakness, bruising, and/or wide purplish striae) were documented in less than half of patients. The median age, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and urinary free cortisol (UFC) concentrations were significantly different among 3 subtypes of CS and were highest among patients with EAS. An initial remission rate after transsphenoidal surgeries in CD was 62%, with higher rates in pituitary microadenomas compared to macroadenomas. All patients with unilateral adrenal disease achieved CS remission after adrenal surgeries. Patients with EAS achieved CS remission mostly from bilateral adrenalectomy. The highest mortality rate was observed in the EAS group. These findings were consistent with previous studies in Asia, with more proportions ACTH-independent CS.


1998 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 503-508 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Benoît Corcuff ◽  
Antoine Tabarin ◽  
Michel Rashedi ◽  
Martine Duclos ◽  
Patrick Roger ◽  
...  

2007 ◽  
Vol 51 (8) ◽  
pp. 1293-1302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucio Vilar ◽  
Maria da Conceição Freitas ◽  
Lúcia Helena C. Lima ◽  
Ruy Lyra ◽  
Claudio E. Kater

Cushing's syndrome (CS) during pregnancy is a rare condition with fewer than 150 cases reported in the literature. Adrenal adenomas were found to be the commonest cause, followed by Cushing's disease. The gestation dramatically affects the maternal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, resulting in increased hepatic production of corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG), increased levels of serum, salivary and urinary free cortisol, lack of suppression of cortisol levels after dexamethasone administration and placental production of CRH and ACTH. Moreover, a blunted response of ACTH and cortisol to exogenous CRH may also occur. Therefore, the diagnosis of CS during pregnancy is much more difficult. Misdiagnosis of CS is also common, as the syndrome may be easily confused with preeclampsia or gestational diabetes. Because CS during pregnancy is usually associated with severe maternal and fetal complications, its early diagnosis and treatment are critical. Surgery is the treatment of choice for CS in pregnancy, except perhaps in the late third trimester, with medical therapy being a second choice. There does not seem to be a rationale for supportive treatment alone.


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