Cushing's disease is often confused with Cushing's syndrome, both have an overproduction of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), but the causes are different. Cushing's disease is most often caused by pituitary microadenomas. What are the symptoms of Cushing's disease? How is her treatment going?
Cushing's diseaseis an overactive adrenal cortex caused by a disease of the pituitary gland that controls their work. The most common cause of an excess of corticotropin (ACTH) in Cushing's disease isadenoma (benign tumor) of the pituitary , an endocrine gland located in the medial fossa. Cushing's disease is rare, women are eight times more likely to get sick than men, and there is one case of every 100,000 people each year.
Cushing's disease: symptoms
- obesity with fat accumulation on the body and neck
- pink stretch marks on the skin
- poured face with puffy eyelids
- bright red blush on the cheeks
- hirsutism in women
- seborrhea and acne
- hypertension
- muscle weakness
- clear mood changes
- menstrual disorders
- bone pain
- low resistance to infections
Cushing's disease: diagnosis
When diagnosing Cushing's disease, first of all, tests should be performed to confirm the excess of cortisol, while excluding its drug-induced source of origin. Subsequent tests are aimed at finding the cause of the excess of cortisol. They are:
biochemical research :
- determination of ACTH concentration in blood serum in the morning (8.00-9.00) - Cushing's disease may be indicated by ACTH concentration above 10-20 pg / ml
- Inhibition test with oral administration of 8 mg of dexamethasone for two days, performed in a hospital setting
- stimulation test with intravenous corticoliberin (CRH)
imaging tests :
- pituitary gland examination by magnetic resonance imaging with contrast medium to visualize a pituitary tumor; Computed tomography is of little use due to the usually small size of ACTH-secreting pituitary tumors.
Cushing's disease: treatment
The only method of treating the diseaseCushing's is the surgical removal of the adenoma through the sphenoid sinus - most often ionizing radiation or laser is used. Before the surgery, in order to reduce the fragility of the vessels, and thus - the risk of complications, adrenal steroid blockers are administered to patients.
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