Marisa Wexler, MS,  senior science writer—

The cancer medicine bexarotene may hold promise for treating Cushing’s disease, a study suggests. The study, “Targeting the TR4 nuclear receptor with antagonist bexarotene can suppress the proopiomelanocortin signalling in AtT‐20 cells,” was published in the Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine. Cushing’s disease is caused…

Only about 10% of Cushing’s syndrome patients are children. Now, a rare case of the disease has been described in a 4-year-old child. The researchers reported that Cushing’s in this young boy was controlled following surgery to remove a single, large tumor. The report, “Cushing’s Syndrome in…

A young healthcare worker who contracted COVID-19 shortly after being diagnosed with Cushing’s disease was detailed in a case report from Japan. While the woman was successfully treated for both conditions, Cushing’s may worsen a COVID-19 infection. Prompt treatment and multidisciplinary care is required for Cushing’s patients who…

SteroTherapeutics and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) are teaming up to conduct a Phase 2 clinical trial to determine the safety, efficacy, and dosage regimen for fluasterone as a potential treatment for the metabolic manifestations of Cushing’s syndrome. “This…

People undergoing regular epidural steroid injections (ESIs) to ease back pain may be at increased risk of adrenal insufficiency, a preliminary study suggests. However, the researchers found no link between ESIs and Cushing’s syndrome. The study, “Incidence of Adrenal Insufficiency and Cushing’s Syndrome After Long-Term…

Two cases of Cushing’s syndrome that were diagnosed following pregnancy are described in a new report, which highlights the difficulty of recognizing the rare disorder in pregnant women. The report, “Cushing’s syndrome in pregnancy, diagnosed after delivery,” was published in Yeungnam University Journal of Medicine in…

The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)’s RareLaunch training program will host two days of free virtual workshops in December, with the aim of empowering leaders to start non-profit organizations and research programs to help people with rare diseases.  “The RareLaunch program is…

Even slightly higher-than-normal levels of cortisol — the hormone that is abnormally high in people with Cushing’s syndrome — can have a detrimental effect on mental health, a new study suggests. The study, “Mental health in patients with adrenal incidentalomas: is there a relation with…

A majority of rare disease patients using telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic thought the experience positive, and many would like the option of continuing its use in future appointments, a series of surveys found. The surveys were conducted by the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) and involved more than 800…

A woman with undiagnosed Cushing’s disease experienced a resolution of her hypercortisolism symptoms after a spontaneous pituitary apoplexy, and was retrospectively diagnosed via hair cortisol analysis, according to a recent case report. This study highlights the utility of testing cortisol levels in hair as a means of identifying…