contact us  |  privacy policy

Friday, November 21, 2008

Cushing’s syndrome

Endocrine glands
Endocrine glands
Definition

Cushing's syndrome is a disease caused by increased production of cortisol, or by excessive use of cortisol or other steroid hormones.


Alternative Names

Hypercortisolism


Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Cushing's syndrome is a condition that results from an excess of cortisol, a hormone produced by the adrenal glands. The most common cause of Cushing's syndrome is Cushing's disease, caused by excessive production of the hormone ACTH by the pituitary gland. ACTH stimulates the adrenal glands to produce cortisol.

Cushing's syndrome can be caused by a tumor of the pituitary gland, a tumor of the adrenal gland, a tumor somewhere other than the pituitary or adrenal glands (ectopic Cushing's syndrome), or by long-term use of corticosteroids (drugs commonly used to treat conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and asthma).

Risk factors for Cushing's syndrome are adrenal or pituitary tumors, long-term therapy with corticosteroids, and being female.

See also:

  • Cushing's disease (pituitary Cushing's)
  • Cushing's syndrome - exogenous
  • Ectopic Cushing's syndrome
  • Cushing's syndrome caused by adrenal tumor


Review Date: 01/18/2006
Reviewed By: Nikheel S. Kolatkar, M.D., Clinical and Research Fellow, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Hypertension, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

TheHealthCentralNetwork  
Acid Reflux Connection Bipolar Connect My Diabetes Central High Blood Pressure Connection My Osteoarthritis Central
Allergy Network My Breast Cancer Network My Diet Exercise Incontinence Network My RA Central
Our Alzheimer's Cholesterol Network Erectile Dysfunction Connection My Migraine Connection Schizophrenia Connection
Anxiety Connection Chronic Pain Connection Herpes Connection Osteoporosis Connection Skin Cancer Connection
Asthma Central My Depression Connection My Heart Central Prostate Commons My Sleep Central