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Exogenous Cushing syndrome

Cushing syndrome - corticosteroid induced; Corticosteroid-induced Cushing syndrome; Iatrogenic Cushing syndrome

 

Exogenous Cushing syndrome is a form of Cushing syndrome that occurs in people taking glucocorticoid (also called corticosteroid) hormones.

Causes

 

Cushing syndrome is a disorder that occurs when your body has a higher than normal level of the hormone cortisol. This hormone is normally made in the adrenal glands .

Exogenous means caused by something outside the body. Exogenous Cushing syndrome occurs when a person takes man-made (synthetic) glucocorticoid medicines to treat a disease.

Glucocorticoids are given for many diseases, such as lung diseases, skin conditions, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, brain tumors, and joint disease. These medicines come in many forms, including pill, intravenous (IV), injection, enema, skin creams, inhalers, and eye drops.

 

Symptoms

 

Most people with Cushing syndrome have:

  • Round, red, full face ( moon face )
  • Slow growth rate (in children)
  • Weight gain with fat accumulation on the trunk, but fat loss from the arms, legs, and buttocks (central obesity)

Skin changes that are often seen include:

  • Skin infections
  • Purple marks (1/2 inch or 1 centimeter 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 and above the collar bone
  • Rib and spine fractures caused by thinning of the bones
  • Weak muscles, especially of the hips and shoulders

Women may have:

  • Excess hair growth on the face, neck, chest, abdomen, and thighs
  • Periods that become irregular or stop

Men may have:

  • Decreased or no desire for sex
  • Erection problems

Other symptoms that may occur include:

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

 

Exams and Tests

 

The health care provider will perform a physical exam and ask about your symptoms and the medicines you are taking. Tell the provider about all medicines you have been taking for the past several months. Also tell the provider about shots that you received at a provider's office.

If you use cortisone, prednisone, or other corticosteroids, the following test results may suggest exogenous Cushing syndrome:

  • Low ACTH level
  • Low cortisol level  (or high cortisol level) depending on the medicine you are taking
  • No response to an ACTH stimulation test
  • Higher than normal fasting glucose
  • Low blood potassium level
  • Low bone density, as measured by bone mineral density test
  • High cholesterol, particularly high triglycerides and low high-density lipoprotein (HDL)

A method called high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) can show a high level of the suspected medicine in the urine.

 

Treatment

 

Treatment is to slowly decrease and eventually stop taking any corticosteroids. Do not stop taking any medicine without first talking to your provider. Suddenly stopping corticosteroids after taking them for a long time can result in a life-threatening condition called  adrenal crisis .

If you cannot stop taking the medicine because of disease (for example, you need steroids to treat severe asthma), follow your provider's instructions on how to reduce the possibility of developing complications, including:

  • Treating high blood sugar with diet, oral medicines, or insulin.
  • Treating high cholesterol with diet or medicines.
  • Taking medicines to prevent bone loss. This can help reduce the risk of fractures if you develop osteoporosis.
  • Taking medicine to decrease the amount of glucocorticoid medicine that you need.

 

Outlook (Prognosis)

 

Slowly tapering the medicine that is causing the condition can help reverse the effects of adrenal gland shrinkage (atrophy). This may take as long as a year. During this time, you may need to restart or increase the dosage of your steroids in times of stress or illness.

 

Possible Complications

 

Health problems that may result from exogenous Cushing syndrome include any of the following:

  • Low immune system, which may lead to frequent infections
  • Damage to the eyes, kidneys, and nerves due to untreated high blood sugar
  • Diabetes
  • High cholesterol levels
  • Increased risk of heart attack from untreated diabetes and high cholesterol
  • Weak bones ( osteoporosis ) and increased risk of fractures

These complications can generally be prevented with proper treatment.

 

When to Contact a Medical Professional

 

Call for an appointment with your provider if you are taking a corticosteroid and you develop symptoms of Cushing syndrome.

 

Prevention

 

If you take a corticosteroid, know the signs and symptoms of Cushing syndrome. Getting treated early can help prevent any long-term effects of Cushing syndrome. If you use inhaled steroids, you can decrease your exposure to the steroids by using a spacer and by rinsing your mouth after breathing in the steroids.

 

 

Open References

References

Ferri FF. Cushing's disease and syndrome. In: Ferri FF, ed. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2016 . Philadelphia: PA Elsevier Mosby; 2016:385-386.

Nieman LK, Biller BM, Findling JW, et al. Treatment of Cushing's syndrome: an Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab . 2015;100:2807-2831. PMID: 26222757 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26222757 .

Stewart PM, Newell-Price JDC. The adrenal cortex. In: Melmed S, Polonsky KS, Larsen PR, Kronenberg HM, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology . 13th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 15.

 
  • Hypothalamus hormone production

    Hypothalamus hormone production - illustration

    The hypothalamus is an area of the brain that produces the "controlling" hormones. These hormones regulate body processes such as metabolism, and control the release of hormones from glands like the thyroid, the adrenals and the gonads (testes or ovaries).

    Hypothalamus hormone production

    illustration

    • Hypothalamus hormone production

      Hypothalamus hormone production - illustration

      The hypothalamus is an area of the brain that produces the "controlling" hormones. These hormones regulate body processes such as metabolism, and control the release of hormones from glands like the thyroid, the adrenals and the gonads (testes or ovaries).

      Hypothalamus hormone production

      illustration

    A Closer Look

     

      Talking to your MD

       

        Self Care

         

          Tests for Exogenous Cushing syndrome

           
             

            Review Date: 10/28/2015

            Reviewed By: Brent Wisse, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology & Nutrition, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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