Author Archives: Alice Melao

Doctors should suspect Cushing’s syndrome in cases of depression that do  not respond to medication or other interventions, avoiding misdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment, a case report suggests. While reducing cortisol levels often is enough to improve the depressive symptoms experienced by some Cushing’s patients — as occurred in this case…

Long-term use of topical corticosteroids to treat skin problems can trigger secondary Cushing’s syndrome in adults, with a severe impact on bone health, a case report shows. The study, “Osteoporotic vertebral fracture caused by topical corticosteroid abuse: A case report,” was published in the journal…

Using topical creams with high corticosteroid concentrations to manage skin rash in infants can lead to the development of drug-related secondary Cushing’s syndrome, a case report shows. Therefore, the public needs to be made more aware of the adverse effects of these treatments in this young population, researchers say.

Recordati has acquired worldwide rights over Novartis‘ investigational therapy osilodrostat (LCI699), being developed for the treatment of endogenous Cushing’s disease. The agreement also covers Signifor (pasireotide), an approved treatment for adults with Cushing’s disease who failed surgery or who were not eligible for surgery,…

Pituitary gland tissue analysis during surgery can help confirm a Cushing’s disease diagnosis and define the best strategy to treat patients with small pituitary tumors, according to a study. The study, “The Utility of Intraoperative Cytological Smear and Frozen Section in the Surgical Management of Patients with…

Cases of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-independent Cushing’s syndrome are often caused by unilateral tumors in the adrenal glands, but Indian researchers have now reported a rare case where the condition was caused by tumors in both adrenal glands. Fewer than 40 cases of bilateral tumors have been reported so far, but…

Novartis is launching a Phase 2 trial to assess the safety and efficacy of its investigational therapy osilodrostat — an inhibitor of cortisol synthesis — in children with Cushing’s disease. The Phase 2 trial (NCT03708900) is expected to enroll 12 pediatric patients, from 6 to 18 years, who…

In rare cases, the appearance of blood clots in arteries may be the first symptom of Cushing’s syndrome, a case report shows. That finding, “Arterial thrombosis as primary presentation of endogenous Cushing’s syndrome,” was published in the journal BMJ Case Reports. Cushing’s syndrome is a condition…

Stereotactic radiosurgery — a targeted form of radiation therapy — can effectively reduce hormone levels and control tumor progression in children and adolescents with hormone-secreting pituitary adenomas, particularly those with Cushing’s disease and acromegaly, a retrospective study shows. The study, “Outcomes after Gamma knife Stereotactic Radiosurgery in pediatric…

Cushing’s syndrome patients have a higher risk of fractures due to reduced bone mineral density and osteoporosis, but these issues are not associated with vitamin D or parathyroid hormone levels, two important regulators of bone health, a study shows. The study, “Bone health in patients with Cushing’s…