| Cushing's syndrome is a rare endocrine disorder | | | | diabetic range), and a low serum potassium. One of |
| caused by high levels of cortisol in the blood. | | | | cortisol's most important jobs is to help the body |
| Sometimes called "hypercortisolism. It is relatively rare | | | | respond to stress. Some rare tumours in other parts |
| and most commonly affects person aged 20 to 50. | | | | of the body sometimes make ACTH. For example, |
| An estimated 10 to15 of every million people are | | | | some types of lung cancer. The 'ectopic' ACTH then |
| affected each year. Cushing's syndrome occurs when | | | | stimulates the adrenals to make too much cortisol. |
| the body's tissues are exposed to excessive levels | | | | People suffering from depression, alcoholism, |
| of cortisol for long periods of time. Many people | | | | malnutrition and panic disorders also have increased |
| suffer the symptoms of Cushing's syndrome because | | | | cortisol levels. Treatments for Cushing's syndrome |
| they take glucocorticoid hormones such as | | | | are designed to lower the high level of cortisol in |
| prednisone for asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and | | | | your body. Cushing's syndrome is treated by |
| other inflammatory diseases, or for | | | | restoring a normal balance of hormones. Cushing |
| immunosuppression after transplantation. Cushing's | | | | syndrome caused by an adrenal tumor is usually |
| syndrome is also a relatively common condition in | | | | treated by surgical removal of the tumor.Hormone |
| domestic dogs in which causes are the same as the | | | | supplements are usually given before surgery and |
| syndrome in humans, and in horses, (where it is | | | | must be taken for weeks and sometimes months |
| almost invariably caused by pituitary neoplasia) | | | | after surgery, until the second gland recovers normal |
| characterised by a long, tightly curled coat which | | | | function. Medications to control excessive production |
| does not shed and abnormal fat deposition. The | | | | of cortisol include ketoconazole (Nizoral), mitotane |
| syndrome in horses leads to weight loss, polyuria and | | | | (Lysodren) and metyrapone (Metopirone). Medical |
| polydipsia and may cause laminitis. | | | | therapy is also sometimes used before surgery for |
| Cushing's disease is the name given to a type of | | | | people who are very sick. |
| Cushing's Syndrome caused by too much ACTH | | | | Treatment for Cushing's disease Tips |
| production in the pituitary. The most common cause | | | | 1. Cushing's syndrome is treated by restoring a |
| of Cushing's syndrome is the use of oral | | | | normal balance of hormones. |
| corticosteroid medication. Common symptoms of | | | | 2. Cushing syndrome is usually treated by surgical |
| Cushing's syndrome include upper body obesity, | | | | removal of the tumor. |
| severe fatigue and muscle weakness, high blood | | | | 3. Hormone supplements are usually given before |
| pressure, backache, elevated blood sugar, easy | | | | surgery and must be taken for weeks and |
| bruising, and bluish-red stretch marks on the skin. Risk | | | | sometimes months after surgery, until the second |
| factors for Cushing syndrome are adrenal or pituitary | | | | gland recovers normal function. |
| tumors, long-term therapy with corticosteroids, and | | | | 4. Medications to control excessive production of |
| being female. Many people suffer the symptoms of | | | | cortisol include ketoconazole (Nizoral), mitotane |
| Cushing's syndrome because they take glucocorticoid | | | | (Lysodren) and metyrapone (Metopirone). |
| hormones such as prednisone for asthma, rheumatoid | | | | 5. Radiation therapy-Radiation can be given in small |
| arthritis, lupus or other inflammatory diseases. Cortisol | | | | doses over a six-week period, or by a technique |
| performs vital tasks in the body. It helps maintain | | | | called stereotactic radiosurgery or gamma-knife |
| blood pressure and cardiovascular function, reduces | | | | radiation. |
| the immune system's inflammatory response, | | | | 6. Chemotherapy - radiation treatments of the |
| balances the effects of insulin in breaking down sugar | | | | pituitary gland (to weaken it and lower its output of |
| for energy, and regulates the metabolism of proteins, | | | | ACTH) - or removal of any benign growths of the |
| carbohydrates, and fats. | | | | pituitary gland. |
| Common findings on routine laboratory tests in | | | | 7. Adrenal adenomas are always treated by surgically |
| people with Cushing's Syndrome include a higher | | | | removing the tumor with either an abdominal or side |
| white blood count, a high blood sugar (often into the | | | | (flank) incision. |