What Is Cushing's Syndrome?
Cushing's syndrome, sometimes called hypercortisolism, is a hormonal
disorder caused by high levels of the hormone cortisol. Cortisol
affects many different systems in our body, including our immune
system, nervous system and bone growth.
You may have Cushing's syndrome due to:
- Using oral corticosteroid medication
- Your body making
too much cortisol. This is very rare. Per year, only 10 to 15 people
out of one million will have this type.
Symptoms of Cushing's Syndrome
One of the main symptoms of Cushing's syndrome has to do with fat
distribution. Fat may accumulate on your upper body, giving your face
a puffy, rounded look. Children with Cushing's syndrome may be obese
with slowed growth rates.
Learn more about the signs
and symptoms of Cushing's syndrome.
Causes of Cushing's Syndrome
There are two main causes of Cushing's syndrome:
-
Exogenous Cushing's syndrome is when the condition develops
from causes outside of your own body. For example, your doctor may
have prescribed corticosteroids to treat certain diseases, such as
rheumatoid
arthritis, lupus
or asthma. Or, you may have received corticosteroid injections to
treat joint or back pain. In high doses, these medications can lead
to Cushing’s syndrome.
-
Endogenous Cushing's syndrome is when your own body produces
too much cortisol. This may be due to a number of conditions,
including pituitary
gland tumors and adrenal gland disease.
Learn more about causes
of Cushing's syndrome.
Diagnosing Cushing's Syndrome
We will most likely recommend a variety of laboratory tests to
confirm a diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome. These include testing your
urine and saliva.
Learn more about Cushing's
syndrome diagnosis.
Tests for Causes of Cushing's Syndrome
We may also decide to order tests that will determine the cause of
your Cushing's syndrome. This will help us plan a more effective and
personalized treatment.
Learn more about tests
for causes of Cushing's syndrome.
Cushing's Syndrome Treatment
The type of treatment we plan will depend on the cause of your
condition. For example, if a tumor is the cause of the syndrome, we
will plan a surgery to remove the tumor. In other cases, medication
can help reduce the amount of cortisol your body is producing.
Learn more about treatment
for Cushing's syndrome.
Clinical Trials for Cushing's Syndrome
Clinical trials are research studies that evaluate a new medical
approach, device, drug or other treatment. As a Stanford Health Care
patient, you may have access to the latest, advanced clinical trials.