Symptoms of Cushings Syndrome
Symptom of cushings syndrome include fat deposits close to the face neck and trunk; weariness; muscular weakness; salt and water retention; acne; leisurely bruising; menstlruall irregularities; and signs (in women) of virilisation, such as increase of the voice, commute in body, shape, loss of scalp hair, and extend in facial and body hair. Complications of cushings syndrome include advanced blood pressure, The symptoms and signs of cushings syndrome induced by a chronic redundant of corticosteroid hormones in the blood. The redundant may be acquired by a tumour of the outer part (cortex) of the adrenal gland, or may be referable to over inspiration of the adrenal glands by a tumour the pituitary gland.
Many children and teenagers with Cushing’s syndrome will exhibit various symptoms of the following:
-extreme weight gain
-growth retardation
-missed periods in teenage girls
-excess hair growth
-acne
-reddish-blue streaks on the skin
-high blood pressure
-tiredness and weakness
-either very early or late puberty
Adults with the disease may also have symptoms of intense weight gain, redundant hair growth, high blood pressure, and skin difficulties. In addition, they may show:
-muscle and bone weakness
-moodiness, irritability, or depression
-sleep disturbances
-high blood sugar
-menstrual disorders in women and diminished fertility in men
Complications include:
-Diabetes (High or Low blood glucose levels)
-Enlargement of pituitary tumor and other complications from the tumor growth
-Fractures due to osteoporosis which are common in older people
-High blood pressure which could be life threatening
-Kidney stones from the increase in cortisol and other chemicals filtered through the kidneys
-Serious infections which could lead to further secondary infections
How is Cushing’s syndrome diagnosed?
Diagnosis is established on a survey of the patient’s medical history including somatic examination and laboratory tests.
Frequently x-ray exams of the adrenal or pituitary glands are beneficial for locating tumors. These tests assist to find out if excess levels of cortisol are exhibited and why.
Radiologic imaging: direct visualization of the endocrine glands. Imaging tests reveal the size and shape of the pituitary and adrenal glands and help determine if a tumor is present. The most common imaging tests are the computerized tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A CT scan produces a series of x-ray pictures giving a cross-sectional image of a body part. MRI also produces images of internal organs but without exposing patients to ionizing radiation. Imaging procedures are used to find a tumor after a diagnosis has been made. Imaging is not used to make the diagnosis of Cushing’s syndrome because benign tumors are commonly found in the pituitary and adrenal glands. These tumors, sometimes called incidentalomas, do not produce hormones in quantities that are harmful. They are not removed unless blood tests show they are a cause of symptoms or they are unusually large. Conversely, pituitary tumors may not be detectable by imaging in almost half of people who ultimately need pituitary surgery for Cushing’s syndrome.
24-hour urinary free cortisol level. In this test, a person’s urine is collected several times over a 24-hour period and tested for cortisol. Levels higher than 50 to 100 micrograms a day for an adult suggest Cushing’s syndrome. Low-dose dexamethasone suppression test (LDDST). In the LDDST, a person is given a low dose of dexamethasone, a synthetic glucocorticoid, by mouth every 6 hours for 2 days. Urine is collected before dexamethasone is administered and several times on each day of the test. A modified LDDST uses a onetime overnight dose.
The normal upper limit varies in different laboratories, depending on which measurement technique is used.
Midnight plasma cortisol and late-night salivary cortisol measurements. The midnight plasma cortisol test measures cortisol concentrations in the blood.
Dexamethasone-corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) test. Some people have high cortisol levels but do not develop the progressive effects of Cushing’s syndrome, such as muscle weakness, fractures, and thinning of the skin. These people may have pseudo-Cushing’s syndrome, a condition sometimes found in people who have depression or anxiety disorders, drink excess alcohol, have poorly controlled diabetes, or are severely obese. Pseudo-Cushing’s does not have the same long-term effects on health as Cushing’s syndrome and does not require treatment directed at the endocrine glands.
Stayed tune for Part III Thursday on treatments of Cushing’s Syndrome!