Joana Carvalho, PhD, managing science editor —

Disruptions in blood sugar metabolism and hypercortisolism — excessive levels of the hormone cortisol in the blood — are both linked to a higher risk of hyperlipidemia, or having high levels of fatty molecules circulating in the bloodstream, in people with Cushing’s disease, a study found. Hyperlipidemia, in turn,…

Physicians should consider the possibility of Cushing’s disease in patients presenting with an adrenal tumor normally associated with other forms of Cushing’s syndrome, a case report suggests. The report, “Coexistence Of Cushing Disease With A Solitary Acth-Dependent Adrenal Adenoma,” was published in the journal AACE…

A stimulation test with human choriogonadotropin (hCG) — a hormone normally produced by the placenta to sustain pregnancy — should be performed very soon after a women suspected of pregnancy-induced Cushing’s syndrome gives birth, to confirm a diagnosis, a case report highlighted. The case report, “Pregnancy-induced Cushing’s…

Although rare, pituicytomas should still be considered as a possible cause of Cushing’s disease in patients experiencing the typical symptoms of the disease, a case report highlights. The study, “Pituicytoma associated with Cushing’s disease: a case report and literature review,” was published in the…

Since morbid obesity by itself is not a telltale sign of Cushing’s syndrome, routine screenings for the disease in obese patients referred for weight-loss surgery is unnecessary, a study reported. Published in the journal Pamukkale Tıp Dergisi, the study was titled “Is screening for…

Patients prefer the overnight dexamethasone suppression test (ONDST) over the 24-hour urine analysis test as a first screening test for Cushing’s syndrome, a study has found. The study, “Preferred screening test for Cushing’s syndrome screening,” was published in the Journal of Endocrinology…

Metopirone (metyrapone) safely normalized, or at least lowered by half, the levels of cortisol found in the urine of patients with endogenous Cushing’s syndrome, according to data from a Phase 3/4 clinical trial. Findings from the study, called PROMPT (NCT02297945), were presented recently by…

A combination of bexarotene and lapatinib, two approved anti-cancer medications, may hold promise in treating Cushing’s disease, according to a recent study. The study, “Bexarotene combined with lapatinib for the treatment of Cushing’s disease: evidence based on drug repositioning and experimental confirmation,” was published in the…

Patients with endogenous Cushing’s syndrome who stopped using Recorlev (levoketoconazole) and moved to a placebo in a study started having their urine cortisol levels rise in response to lack of treatment, compared with those who remained on Recorlev, according to top-line data from the Phase 3 LOGICS…

Abnormally high levels of cortisol in the urine — one of the hallmarks of Cushing’s syndrome — seem to be associated with alterations in blood sugar metabolism in obese patients, a study found. The study, “Hypercortisolism and altered glucose homeostasis in obese patients in…