Cushing syndrome - exogenous

Health Library

Find

Español

2	4	5	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I	J	K	L	M	N	O	P	Q	R	S	T	U	V	W	X	Y	Z

Overview	Symptoms	Treatment	Prevention

Cushing syndrome - exogenous

Alternative Names

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

Symptoms

Abdomen that sticks out and thin arms and legs (central obesity)
Acne
Collection of fat between the shoulders (buffalo hump)
Depression
Euphoria, not related to life situation
Excessive facial hair growth in females
Frequent and easy bruising
Headache
Impotence
Purple stretch marks on the skin of the abdomen, thighs, and breasts
Round, red, and full face (moon face)
Stopping of menstruation
Weakness
Weight gain

Other symptoms that may occur with this disease:

Exams and Tests

In people who use cortisone, prednisone, or other corticosteroids, the following test results may suggest exogenous Cushing syndrome:

Low ACTH level
Low cortisol level
No response to a cosyntropin stimulation test
Higher-than-normal fasting glucose
Low serum potassium
Low bone density, as measured by dual x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA)
High cholesterol, particularly high triglycerides and low high-density lipoprotein (HDL)

A method called high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) can show high levels of the suspected medication in the urine.

References

Stewart PM. The Adrenal Cortex. In: Kronenberg: Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2008:chap 14.


Hypothalamus hormone production

Review Date: 3/18/2008
Reviewed By: Elizabeth H. Holt, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Yale University. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission. URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2005 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.