Cushing syndrome Health Article

Definition

Cushing syndrome is a disorder that occurs when your body is exposed to high levels of the hormone cortisol. It may also occur if you take too much cortisol or other steroid hormones.

See also: Cushing's disease (pituitary Cushing's)

Alternative Names

Hypercortisolism

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Cushing syndrome may be caused by taking too much corticosteroid medications, such as prednisone and prednisolone. These drugs are used to treat conditions such as asthma and rheumatoid arthritis.

Other people develop Cushing syndrome because their bodies produce too much cortisol, a hormone normally made in the adrenal gland. Causes of too much cortisol are:

• Cushing's disease, when the pituitary gland makes too much of the hormone ACTH. ACTH then signals the adrenal glands to produce cortisol. Tumor of the pituitary gland may cause this condition.
• Tumor of the adrenal gland
• Tumor elsewhere in the body that produces cortisol
• Tumors elsewhere in the body that produce ACTH (such as the pancreas, lung, and thyroid)

Symptoms

Most people with Cushing syndrome will have:

• Upper body obesity (above the waist) and thin arms and legs
• Round, red, full face (moon face)
• Slow growth rate in children

Skin changes that are often seen:

• Acne or skin infections
• Purple marks (1/2 inch or more wide) called striae on the skin of the abdomen, thighs, and breasts
• Thin skin with easy bruising

Muscle and bone changes include:

• Backache, which occurs with routine activities
• Bone pain or tenderness
• Collection of fat between the shoulders (buffalo hump)
• Thinning of the bones, which leads to rib and spine fractures
• Weak muscles

Women with Cushing syndrome often have:

• Excess hair growth on the face, neck, chest, abdomen, and thighs
• Menstrual cycle becomes irregular or stops

Men may have:

• Decreased fertility
• Decreased or no desire for sex
• Impotence

Other symptoms that may occur with this disease:

• Mental changes, such as depression, anxiety, or changes in behavior
• Fatigue
• Headache
• High blood pressure
• Increased thirst and urination