Author Archives: Marta Figueiredo PhD

For years before and after their diagnosis, people with Cushing’s disease use more psychotropic medications — those that affect mood, thoughts, or perception — for mental health problems than their healthy peers, a study in Sweden found. Notably, patients experiencing long-term disease remission still showed higher use of antidepressants…

People with rare disorders have a worse healthcare experience than those affected by chronic diseases, according to the results of an international survey conducted by Eurordis-Rare Diseases Europe. Indeed, rare disease patients overall give their healthcare experience a medium-low rating, of 2.5 on a scale of 1 to 5,…

Recorlev (levoketoconazole), Strongbridge Biopharma’s oral investigational therapy, lessens disease symptoms and depression, and improves quality of life among people with endogenous Cushing’s syndrome, according to data from the Phase 3 SONICS trial. Notably, the therapy was found to particularly ease symptoms among female patients. “People with Cushing’s syndrome…

The first wave of COVID-19 in Europe severely disrupted access to care and raised stress and anxiety in people with rare diseases, negatively affecting their health and well-being, according to a survey conducted by Eurordis-Rare Diseases Europe. “People living with rare diseases in Europe have found themselves caught as collateral…

Researchers report a very rare case of Cushing’s disease in a 34-year-old woman caused by a “collision” brain tumor, a tumor simultaneously consisting of a meningioma and a pituitary adenoma. Meningioma, the most common type of brain tumor, arises from the meninges — the protective layers of tissue around…

Using steroid-based creams to treat skin conditions in the genital area may lead to the fast development of medication-related Cushing’s syndrome in adults with HIV on antiretroviral therapy with Norvir (ritonavir), a case report shows. A combination of higher steroid absorption in the genital mucosa…

Dissolving hydrocortisone tablets in water for multiple daily dosing to treat congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) in children may result in higher-than-intended dosing and exogenous Cushing’s syndrome — a form of the disease that occurs in those taking steroid hormones — a case report shows. The case highlights…

Recordati’s Isturisa (osilodrostat) safely and effectively normalizes urinary levels of cortisol in people with endogenous Cushing’s syndrome other than Cushing’s disease, according to data from a Phase 2 clinical trial in Japan. Endogenous Cushing’s syndrome occurs when the body produces abnormally high levels of the…

Recognizing discrepancies between blood tests of adenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels and patients’ clinical data is important for clinicians to avoid unnecessary testing or misdiagnosis, a case series highlights. The study, “Corticotropin hormone assay interference: A case series,” was published in the journal Clinical Biochemistry. Cushing’s syndrome comprises…

Strongbridge Biopharma released additional positive results from a Phase 3 trial evaluating whether the company’s investigational therapy Recorlev (levoketoconazole) is safe and effective for people with endogenous Cushing’s syndrome. The latest results were presented in the scientific poster “Safety and Efficacy of Levoketoconazole in Cushing Syndrome: …