The use of large amounts of corticosteroids over a prolonged period of time — as a topical treatment for a 4-year-old girl who had previously undergone a large skin graft — triggered Cushing’s syndrome in the child, according to a recent case report. The girl was examined by clinicians after…
A combination of medications that inhibit steroidogenesis — the process by which the body produces steroid hormones, like cortisol, from cholesterol — can be used to treat people with Cushing’s syndrome, allowing for adequate control of their cortisol levels until surgery, a case report highlighted. Such combinations may be especially…
In pregnant women, changes in DNA methylation — a chemical modification used to tone down gene expression or activity — may worsen Cushing’s syndrome caused by adrenal tumors, a study reported. Findings indicate these chemical changes cause tumors to grow faster and become larger in pregnant patients compared with patients…
Due to its effects on heart tissue, high levels of cortisol, like those seen in Cushing’s syndrome, may play a role in the development of cardiomyopathies — diseases of the heart muscle that make it harder for the heart to pump blood to the rest of the body —…
People with Cushing’s syndrome who have an increased percentage of a specific type of white blood cells, called neutrophils — which are involved in inflammation and act as the first line of defense against bacteria and other organisms — are at greater risk of developing diabetes mellitus, according…
When placed over the skin, potent corticosteroids induced Cushing’s syndrome in an infant who was given the medications over a long period of time to treat diaper rash, a recent case study reported. “Physicians need to consider this in infantile [Cushing’s syndrome] cases, and take appropriate measures to avoid…
A retrospective study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) suggests that healthcare costs for those with rare diseases have been underestimated, possibly being three to five times higher than for those without rare diseases. This study provides evidence of the potential effect rare diseases may have on public health…
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