Iatrogenic Cushing’s syndrome
Corticosteroids are usually used to reduce inflammation and suppress the immune system of the body. However, in cases where people have severe conditions of asthma, atopic eczema, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, a long time course of high dosage of corticosteriod will have to be prescribed. Unfortunately this results in a higher risk of developing Cushing’s disease due to it containing a synthetic version of cortisol hormone. This cortisol level can build up over time and thus trigger the Cushing’s syndrome.
Corticosteroids are usually used to reduce inflammation and suppress the immune system of the body. However, in cases where people have severe conditions of asthma, atopic eczema, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, a long time course of high dosage of corticosteriod will have to be prescribed. Unfortunately this results in a higher risk of developing Cushing’s disease due to it containing a synthetic version of cortisol hormone. This cortisol level can build up over time and thus trigger the Cushing’s syndrome.
Endogenous Cushing’s syndrome
Endogenous Cushing syndrome is much less common than iatrogenic Cushing’s syndrome. There are three causes for endogenous Cushing’s syndrome. Which are tumours in the pituitary gland, a tumours in one of the adrenal gland and tumours in the lungs. The most common cause of endogenous Cushing’s syndrome is the tumour which develops in the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland secretes a hormone called adrenocorticotropinhormone (ACTH) which stimulates the adrenal glands to produce cortisol. The tumour that develops can disrupt the normal working of the pituitary gland which results in the production of excessive levels of ACTH that causes the adrenal gland to produce too much cortisol. This type of endogenous Cushing’s syndrome is known as Cushing’s disease. A less common cause of endogenous Cushing’s disease is where a tumour develops in one of the adrenal glands. Another less common cause is known as ectopic ACTH syndrome. This occurs when a tumour develops inside the lungs and starts to produce the ACTH hormone. Tumours that develop inside the pituitary gland are usually non-cancerous. Tumours that develop inside the lungs can sometimes be cancerous.
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