Which physical symptoms would a client diagnosed with Cushing syndrome exhibit

Presentation

History

Patients with Cushing syndrome may experience weight gain, especially in the face, supraclavicular region, upper back, and torso. Frequently, patients notice changes in their skin, including purple stretch marks, easy bruising, and other signs of skin thinning. Because of progressive proximal muscle weakness, patients may have difficulty climbing stairs, getting out of a low chair, and raising their arms.

Menstrual irregularities, amenorrhea, infertility, and decreased libido may occur in women related to inhibition of pulsatile secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which likely is due to interruption of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) pulse generation. In men, inhibition of LHRH and FSH/LH function may lead to decreased libido and impotence.

New-onset or worsening of hypertension and diabetes mellitus, difficulty with wound healing, increased infections, osteopenia, and osteoporotic fractures may occur.

Psychological problems such as depression, cognitive dysfunction, and emotional lability may develop. Neuropsychological symptoms and cognitive impairment can manifest a few days after glucocorticoid treatment begins and resolve a few days after such therapy ends. Treatment duration and dose are positively correlated with the risk of these side effects. The association of glucocorticoids with severe neuropsychiatric symptoms, including confusion and suicide attempts, also has been found to be dose dependent. It has been reported that memory and executive function can be impaired by glucocorticoid treatment as well. Evidence indicates that glucocorticoid administration particularly impacts the consolidation, as opposed to the acquisition, of memories, with patients retaining immediate recall abilities. [14]

When seeing a patient with symptoms suggestive of Cushing syndrome, inquire about history of drug use, duration, and dosing, including over the counter drugs and herbal preparations. A good and detailed history can provide very useful information to exclude drug-related Cushing syndrome before proceeding with further diagnostic tests.

Which physical symptoms would a client diagnosed with Cushing syndrome exhibit

Physical

Obesity

Patients may have increased adipose tissue in the face (moon facies), upper back at the base of neck (buffalo hump), and above the clavicles (supraclavicular fat pads).

Central obesity is characterized by increased adipose tissue in the mediastinum and peritoneum and an increased waist-to-hip ratio of greater than 1 in men and higher than 0.8 in women. Increased visceral fat is easily observed and measured with computed tomography (CT) scanning of the abdomen.

Skin

Facial plethora may be present, especially over the cheeks. Violaceous striae, often wider than 0.5 cm, are observed most commonly over the abdomen, buttocks, lower back, upper thighs, upper arms, and breasts. Ecchymoses may be present. Patients may have telangiectasias and purpura.

Cutaneous atrophy with exposure of subcutaneous vasculature tissue and tenting of skin may be evident. Glucocorticoid excess may cause increased lanugo facial hair. If glucocorticoid excess is accompanied by androgen excess, as occurs in adrenocortical carcinomas, hirsutism and male pattern balding may be present in women. Steroid acne, consisting of papular or pustular lesions over the face, chest, and back, may be present. Acanthosis nigricans, which is associated with insulin resistance and hyperinsulinism, may be present. The most common sites are axilla and areas of frequent rubbing, such as over elbows, around the neck, and under the breasts.

Gastroenterologic

Peptic ulceration may occur with or without symptoms. Particularly at risk are patients given high doses of glucocorticoids.

Skeletal/muscular

Proximal muscle weakness may be evident. Osteoporosis may lead to incident fractures and kyphosis, height loss, and axial skeletal bone pain. Avascular necrosis of the hip is also possible from glucocorticoid excess.

Adrenal crisis

Patients with cushingoid features may present to the emergency department in adrenal crisis. Adrenal crisis may occur in patients on steroids who stop taking their glucocorticoids or neglect to increase their steroids during an acute illness. See Glucocorticoid Therapy and Cushing Syndrome.

Physical findings that occur in a patient in adrenal crisis include hypotension, abdominal pain, vomiting, and mental confusion (secondary to low serum sodium or hypotension). Other findings include hypoglycemia, hyperkalemia, hyponatremia, and metabolic acidosis.

Causes

The most common cause of iatrogenic, or drug-related, Cushing syndrome is glucocorticoids. Glucocorticoid use via different routes, including injected, oral, epidural, [15] inhaled, [16] nasal, [17] or topical, [18] if prolonged and potent enough, can cause Cushing syndrome.

The effect of drug interactions should be taken into consideration, especially with agents that can inhibit cytochrome P450. Via the pathway of cytochrome P450, glucocorticoid is metabolized in the liver by the CYP3A4 isoenzyme into inactive metabolites. Therefore, drugs that inhibit cytochrome P450 activity can lead to prolonged action of glucocorticoids. Cases of iatrogenic Cushing syndrome due to interaction of glucocorticoid products and cytochrome P450 inhibitors such as itraconazole, [19] ritonavir, [20, 21] and antidepressants [22] have been reported.

Duman and Fulco reported on a case of probable drug-induced Cushing syndrome, followed by adrenal insufficiency, caused by the concomitant use of the oral voriconazole (an antifungal, CYP3A4 inhibitor) with intranasal mometasone and inhaled fluticasone. [23]

Epperla and McKiernan reported on a case of iatrogenic Cushing syndrome, severe osteoporosis, and adrenal insufficiency, resulting from the concomitant use of ritonavir and inhaled fluticasone in a patient with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). [24]

Joshi and Maresh reported on two infants with nasal obstruction who developed Cushing syndrome after being treated with intranasal dexamethasone drops. [25]

Patients with diseases that respond to steroid therapy are especially likely to receive steroids and, thus, develop Cushing syndrome. Such disorders include a wide variety of rheumatologic, pulmonary, neurologic, and renal diseases. Patients who have undergone organ transplants are also at risk for developing Cushing syndrome due to exogenous steroids required as part of graft antirejection regimens. A case study by Yeoh described the development of Cushing syndrome following the administration of ritonavir for the treatment of hepatitis C and oral budesonide for autoimmune hepatitis. [26]

Megestrol acetate (a progestin with intrinsic glucocorticoid activity) [27] and herbal preparations [28, 29] have also been known to cause Cushing syndrome.

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  • Physical findings in Cushing syndrome.

  • Diagnosis of Cushing syndrome.

Author

Coauthor(s)

Catherine Anastasopoulou, MD, PhD, FACE Associate Professor of Medicine, The Steven, Daniel and Douglas Altman Chair of Endocrinology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University; Einstein Endocrine Associates, Einstein Medical Center

Catherine Anastasopoulou, MD, PhD, FACE is a member of the following medical societies: American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, Endocrine Society, Philadelphia Endocrine Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Received salary from Medscape for employment. for: Medscape.

Chief Editor

Romesh Khardori, MD, PhD, FACP (Retired) Professor, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Eastern Virginia Medical School

Romesh Khardori, MD, PhD, FACP is a member of the following medical societies: American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, American College of Physicians, American Diabetes Association, Endocrine Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Acknowledgements

Gail K Adler, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School.

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Susanna L Dipp, MD Fellow, Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose

Don S Schalch, MD Professor Emeritus, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics

Don S Schalch, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Diabetes Association, American Federation for Medical Research, Central Society for Clinical Research, and Endocrine Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose

What are three symptoms of Cushing's syndrome?

Too much cortisol can cause some of the hallmark signs of Cushing syndrome — a fatty hump between your shoulders, a rounded face, and pink or purple stretch marks on your skin. Cushing syndrome can also result in high blood pressure, bone loss and, on occasion, type 2 diabetes.

Which symptoms would the nurse expect a client diagnosed with Cushing syndrome to exhibit?

Weight gain in face (moon face) Weight gain above the collar bone (supraclavicular fat pad) Weight gain on the back of neck (buffalo hump) Skin changes with easy bruising in the extremities and development of purplish stretch marks (striae) particularly over the abdomen or axillary region.

What is the most common cause of Cushing's syndrome?

The most common cause of Cushing's syndrome is the long-term, high-dose use of the cortisol-like glucocorticoids. These medicines are used to treat other medical conditions, such as asthma link, rheumatoid arthritis link, and lupus link.

How is Cushing syndrome diagnosed?

Diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome is based on a review of your medical history, physical examination and laboratory tests, which help to determine the presence of excess levels of cortisol. Often X-ray exams of the adrenal or pituitary glands are useful for locating tumors.