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Cushing syndrome - exogenous

Definition

Exogenous Cushing syndrome is a form of Cushing syndrome that occurs in people taking glucocorticoid (also called corticosteroid) hormones, such as prednisone.

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Alternative Names

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

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Exogenous means caused by something outside the body. Exogenous Cushing syndrome occurs when a person takes human-made (synthetic) glucocorticoids, such as prednisone or dexamethasone, for treatment purposes (for example, to treat asthma).

In Cushing syndrome, the adrenal glands produce too much of certain hormones, such as cortisol.

For other causes and more information about Cushing syndrome, see:

Symptoms

Symptoms usually include:

Upper body obesity (above the waist) and thin arms and legs
Round, red, full face (moon face)
Slow growth rate in children

Skin changes that are often seen:

Acne or skin infections
Purple marks (1/2 inch or more wide), called striae, on the skin of the abdomen, thighs, and breasts
Thin skin with easy bruising

Muscle and bone changes include:

Backache, which occurs with routine activities
Bone pain or tenderness
Collection of fat between the shoulders (buffalo hump)
Thinning of the bones, which leads to rib and spine fractures
Weak muscles

Women often have:

Excess hair growth on the face, neck, chest, abdomen, and thighs
Menstrual cycle that becomes irregular or stops

Men may have:

Decreased or no desire for sex
Impotence

Other symptoms that may occur include:

Mental changes, such as depression, anxiety, or changes in behavior
Fatigue
Headache
Increased thirst and urination

Signs 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 blood potassium level
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.

Treatment

The suggested treatment is to slowly decrease and eventually stop taking any corticosteroids. Do not stop taking any medicine without first talking to your health care provider.

If you cannot stop taking the medication because of disease (for example, if you need steroids to treat severe asthma), make every effort to reduce the possibility of developing complications.

Treat high blood sugar aggressively with diet, medications taken by mouth, or insulin.
Treat high cholesterol with diet or medications.
If you will be on steroids for longer than 4 - 6 weeks, you may need to take medication to prevent bone loss (calcium, vitamin D, or bisphosphonates, such as alendronate or risedronate). This may reduce the risk of fractures if you develop osteoporosis.

Expectations (prognosis)

Slowly tapering off the drug that is causing the condition can help reverse the effects of adrenal gland shrinkage (atrophy), although this may take as long as a year. During this time, you may need to restart or increase the dosage of your steroids in times of stress or illness.

Complications

Constant discomfort
Damage to the eyes, kidneys, and nerves due to untreated high blood sugar
Diabetes
High cholesterol levels
Increased risk of heart attack from untreated diabetes and high cholesterol
Weak bones (osteoporosis) and increased risk of fractures

These complications can generally be prevented with proper treatment.

Calling your health care provider

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you are taking a corticosteroid drug and you develop symptoms of Cushing syndrome.

Prevention

Awareness of the signs and symptoms of Cushing syndrome may make early treatment possible for patients who take corticosteroids. If you use inhaled steroids, you can decrease your exposure to the steroids by using a “spacer,” and by rinsing your mouth after breathing in the steroids.

References

Stewart PM, Krone NP. The adrenal cortex. In: Kronenberg H, Melmed S, Polonsky K, Larsen PR, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 12th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 15.

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