Cushing’s syndrome is a term that's used to describe a wide range of symptoms that can be triggered if a person has very high levels of a hormone called cortisol in their blood.
The most common symptoms of Cushing’s syndrome are:
- weight gain
- rounding of the face due to deposits of fat developing there
- decreased interest in sex
- thinning of the skin
What causes Cushing’s syndrome?
Cushing’s syndrome often occurs as a side effect of treatment with corticosteroids. Corticosteroids are widely used to reduce inflammation and treat autoimmune conditions (conditions where the immune system malfunctions and attacks healthy tissue).
People who take high doses of corticosteroids on a long-term basis can sometimes experience a build-up of cortisol in their blood. This form of Cushing’s syndrome is sometimes called iatrogenic Cushing’s syndrome.
A much less common cause of Cushing’s syndrome is where a tumour develops inside one of the glands in the body, causing the gland to produce an excessive amount of hormones. This form of Cushing’s syndrome is sometimes called endogenous Cushing’s syndrome.
Women are five times more likely to develop endogenous Cushing’s syndrome than men, with most cases affecting people who are 25 to 40 years old.
Read more about the causes of Cushing’s syndrome.
Treating Cushing’s syndrome
The main treatment option for people with iatrogenic Cushing’s syndrome is to try to lower or withdraw their corticosteroid dosage. This has to be done gradually because suddenly stopping a course of corticosteroids can cause unpleasant side effects.
The main treatment option for endogenous Cushing’s syndrome is to surgically remove the tumour. If surgery proves unsuccessful, or if the tumour can't be safely removed, medication can be used to counter the effects of the high cortisol levels.
Read more about the treatment of Cushing’s syndrome.
Outlook
With treatment, the outlook for people with Cushing’s syndrome is usually good. However, the time it takes to bring the symptoms under control can vary widely from a few weeks to a couple of years.
If Cushing’s syndrome is left untreated, the outlook is much less favourable because the excessive levels of cortisol can cause high blood pressure (hypertension). High blood pressure increases a person’s risk of having a heart attack or stroke, both of which are serious and can be fatal.
