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Cushing’s Syndrome Explained
Recent studies report expanding treatment options for Cushing’s syndrome, especially for patients who cannot undergo surgery or whose disease persists after surgery. The condition results from prolonged excess cortisol levels in the body.
Cushing’s Syndrome:
| Dimension | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Cushing’s Syndrome | Medical condition caused by prolonged excess of cortisol hormone in the body. |
| Cortisol | Hormone produced by the adrenal glands that regulates blood pressure metabolism immune response and stress response. |
| Types | Includes exogenous Cushing syndrome caused by steroid medicines and endogenous Cushing syndrome caused by internal hormone overproduction. |
| Exogenous Cause | Long term use of steroid medicines prescribed for conditions such as asthma autoimmune diseases arthritis or organ transplants. |
| Endogenous Cause | Excess cortisol production due to tumours in the pituitary gland adrenal glands or other tissues producing adrenocorticotropic hormone. |
| Pituitary Role | Pituitary gland located at the base of the brain produces adrenocorticotropic hormone that regulates cortisol production. |
| Incidence | Affects about one to three people per million annually. |
| Early Symptoms | Includes weight gain around abdomen and face rounded moon face and fat accumulation between shoulders. |
| Skin Effects | Includes thin skin easy bruising slow wound healing purple stretch marks acne and increased facial or body hair in women. |
| Hormonal Effects | Includes irregular or absent menstrual cycles in women and reduced libido or fertility in men. |
| Metabolic Effects | Includes high blood pressure high blood sugar diabetes and elevated cholesterol levels. |
| Bone and Mental Health | Includes osteoporosis risk mood changes anxiety depression sleep disturbance and cognitive problems. |
| Immune Impact | Increases susceptibility to infections. |
| Complications | Includes higher risk of heart disease blood clots and infections if untreated. |
| Vulnerable Groups | People receiving long term steroid treatment and women aged between 30 and 50 years in endogenous cases. |
| Treatment Approaches | Includes gradual tapering of steroid medicines surgical removal of tumours radiation therapy and cortisol blocking medications. |
| Post Treatment Monitoring | Requires temporary cortisol replacement therapy and long term follow up due to risk of recurrence. |