Cushing's syndrome is caused by prolonged high levels of the hormone cortisol and results from tumors in the pituitary gland or adrenal glands overproducing cortisol. Symptoms include upper body obesity, high blood pressure, fragile bones, and easy bruising. Treatment depends on the underlying cause but may include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or drugs to inhibit cortisol production. Left untreated, Cushing's syndrome can be lethal.

1. Cushing’s Syndrome
By: Laura Brown, Sarah Afiz and
Nick Olson

2. What is Cushing’s
Syndrome?
 Cushing’s syndrome is caused by prolonged
exposure of the bodies’ tissue to high levels
of the hormone cortisol
 Cushing syndrome is also called
hypercortisolism

3. What is Cortisol?
 Cortisol is a hormone secreted by the adrenal glands
 Enables regulation of glucose metabolism
 Regulates blood pressure and blood sugar
 Reduce inflammation
 Suppresses immune function
 Most importantly cortisol helps the body respond to
stress (called the “stress hormone”)

4. Causes of Cushing’s
 Majority of the people who suffer from
Cushing’s syndrome have had prior use of
glucocorticoid hormones
-Glucocorticoid hormones are used to prevent
transplant rejection as well as treat
inflammatory diseases such as asthma,
rheumatoid arthritis and lupus

5. Additional Causes
Other causes:
 Pituitary Adenomas: tumors of pituitary gland
 Adrenal gland overgrowth or adrenal tumors
 Too much stress put on the body (ex. Athletes
under intense training, pregnant women-
carrying fetus)

6. Who’s affected?
 Can affect anyone but the disease is
extremely rare
 Any ethnicity
 Affects 10-15 people out of every
million
 Most commonly occurs in females
ages 25-50, 5:1 Female to Male ratio

7. Symptoms
 Upper body obesity (rounded face,
increased neck fat)
 Thinning around the arms and legs
 Delayed growth
 Easy bruising of skin
 Purplish-pink stretch marks on the
abdomen, thigh, buttocks, arms, and
breasts

8. Symptoms (cont.)
 High blood sugar, high blood pressure
 Depression and anxiety
 Increased hair growth in women
 Irregular menstrual cycles
 Bones are fragile, susceptible to fractures
easily

11. Treatments
 Depending on the reason for cortisol excess,
treatments include:
1. Surgery (pituitary/ adrenal gland surgery on
tumors –first line approach)
2. Radiation (can take many years to be
effective)
3. Chemotherapy
4. Cortisol inhibiting drug such as mitotane

12. Special Diet
 People living with Cushing’s must
maintain a certain diet
 Increased protein and calcium- to prevent
loss and thinning of bones
 Less Sodium to keep blood pressure
under control
 Less caffeine- stimulate pituitary gland

13. New Treatment
 Corcept Therapeutics Inc won U.S.
approval for a drug known as Korlym
that uses the active ingredient of the
abortion pill RU-486

14. Korlym
 Korlym blocks the binding of cortisol to its
receptor
 Korlym inhibits or reduces the effects of
excess cortisol
 Orphan drug status: Given to drugs
discovered for rare diseases. Allows
Corcept to have exclusive rights.

15. Other Facts
 This disease is not inherited
 People who are more prone to developing
tumors are at greater risk
 If the disease is not treated, it can be lethal
 Cushing’s can also lead to heart attacks and
strokes
 70% of patients with Cushing’s suffer from
diabetes.

16. Works Cited
1. Medecinenet. (2008, May 12). Retrieved from
http://www.medicinenet.com/cushings_syndrome/article.ht
m
2. Mayo Clinic Staff. (2010, September 11). Retrieved from
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cushings-
syndrome/DS00470
3. http://endocrine.niddk.nih.gov. (july, 2008). Retrieved from
http://endocrine.niddk.nih.gov/pubs/cushings/cushings.as
px
4. Scott, E. (2011, September 22). Cortisol and stress: How
to stay healthy. Retrieved from
http://stress.about.com/od/stresshealth/a/cortisol.htm
5. (n.d.). Cushing syndrome. [0]. Retrieved from
http://flipper.diff.org/app/items/info/418

17. Works cited cont.
6. Keil, M. (2004). Cushing. Retrieved from
http://csrf.net/page/cushings_syndrome_in_children.php
7. Adler, G. (2011, October 21). Cushing. Retrieved from
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/117365-overview
8. Cushing. (1996, June). Retrieved from
http://pituitary.mgh.harvard.edu/cushings.htm
9. Margulies, D. P. (n.d.). National adrenal diseases
foundation: Adrenal diseases - cushing. Retrieved from
http://www.nadf.us/diseases/cushings.htm
10. Adrenal glands. (2009, November 23). Retrieved from
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002219.htm
11. (05/1). Retrieved from
http://www.endocrineweb.com/endocrinology/your-adrenal-
glands