Cushing's Syndrome

Cushing's syndrome is a rare hormonal disorder that occurs when the body produces excessive levels of cortisol for an extended period. The use of glucocorticoid hormones to treat other medical conditions (such as asthma) or tumors in the pituitary or adrenal glands are possible causes of Cushing's syndrome. Symptoms of Cushing's syndrome vary, but can include extreme weight gain, excess hair growth, and high blood pressure. Treatment for Cushing's syndrome may involve surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, cortisol-inhibiting drugs, or a combination of treatments.

 

What Is Cushing's Syndrome?

Cushing's syndrome is a hormonal disorder that occurs when a person's tissues are exposed to an excess of the hormone cortisol. Cushing's syndrome is sometimes called "hypercortisolism."
 

How Common Is Cushing's Syndrome?

Cushing's syndrome is fairly rare. For every 1 million people, two to five new cases are diagnosed each year, with about 10 percent of these being children and teenagers.
 
Cushing's syndrome commonly affects adults between the ages of 20 and 50.
 

Understanding Cortisol

Normally, the production of cortisol follows a precise chain of events. First, the hypothalamus, a part of the brain that is about the size of a small sugar cube, sends corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) to the pituitary gland. CRH causes the pituitary to secrete ACTH (adrenocorticotropin), a hormone that stimulates the adrenal glands. When the adrenals, which are located just above the kidneys, receive the ACTH, they respond by releasing cortisol into the bloodstream.
 
Cortisol performs vital tasks in the body. Cortisol helps:
 
  • Maintain blood pressure and cardiovascular function
  • Reduce the immune system's inflammatory response
  • Balance the effects of insulin in breaking down sugar for energy
  • Regulate the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats
  • Assist the body as it responds to stress.
     
When the amount of cortisol in the blood is adequate, the hypothalamus and pituitary release less CRH and ACTH. This ensures that the amount of cortisol released by the adrenal glands is precisely balanced to meet the body's daily needs. However, if something goes wrong with the adrenals or with their regulating switches in the pituitary gland or the hypothalamus, cortisol production can be affected, resulting in the symptoms of Cushing's syndrome.
 
(Cushing's Syndrome Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
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