Term
| When does Cushing's syndrome occur? |
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Definition
| when high levels of corticosteroids are present in the body over a prolonged period |
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Term
| What are the causes of Cushing's syndrome? |
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Definition
Most commonly due to long-term therapy with high doses of systemic corticosteroids.
Sometimes can be due to pituitary gland (excess adrenocorticotropic hormone ACTH) or adrenal tumors. |
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Term
| What are signs and symptoms of Cushing's syndrome |
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Definition
- Adrenal atrophy
- osteoporosis
- HTN
- delayed wound healing
- acne
- peptic ulcers
- general obesity,
- increased risk for infection
- redistribution of fat around the face (moon face), shoulders, and neck (buffalo hump)
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Term
| Some drugs such as hydrocortisone also have mineralocorticoid. What can this cause? |
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Definition
| retention ofsodium and water. because of their antiinflamatory properties, corticosteroids may mask signs of infection, and a resulting delay in antibiotic therapy may result. |
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Term
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Definition
| because it has a highmortality rate, the primary goal is to identify and treat the cause of the excess corticosteroid secretion. |
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Term
| when patients are receiving high doses of corticosteroid medication, what is the next step? |
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Definition
| gradual discontinuation of the drug is often sufficient to reverse the syndrome. |
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Term
| when is surgical removal indicated? |
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Definition
| whenc ause of hypersecretion is an adrenal tumor or perhaps an ectopic tumor secreting ACTH |
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Term
| What is the preferred drug for patients with Cushing's syndrome who need long-term therapy? |
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Definition
| antifungal drug ketoconazole (Nizoral) |
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Term
| how does ketoconazole work in cushing's syndrome |
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Definition
| it rapidily blocks the synthesis of corticosteroids, lowering serum levels. Unfortunately patients often develop tolerance to the drug and eventually corticosteroids return to abnormally high levels |
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