A 44-year-old man developed exogenous, or treatment-related, Cushing’s syndrome, after taking an herbal supplement called Nhan Sam Tuyet Lien, which contained undisclosed amounts of glucocorticoids, a case study reports. His symptoms eased after he stopped taking the supplement and started taking prednisone. “This case highlights the importance of history taking…

Young children may be at high risk of developing Cushing’s syndrome after having a highly potent topical glucocorticoid applied to the skin, two case reports show. The researchers emphasized that physicians who prescribe these medications must be aware for this potential side effect and closely monitor patients. They also…

Prolonged use of glucocorticoids to reduce inflammation triggered by facial dermal filler procedures likely caused Cushing’s syndrome in a 45-year-old woman, a case report describes. Long-term use of glucocorticoids should be avoided in such cases in favor of alternative treatments, its author noted. The report, “Case…

People with active Cushing’s disease show increased production of red blood cells due to the presence of a type of altered blood stem cell that show abnormal activation of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) signaling, a study shows. The GR is the receptor protein activated by glucocorticoids, or steroid hormones, including…

The levels of an enzyme that activates glucocorticoids, including cortisol, from their inactive forms, are increased in abdominal fat tissue — abdominal obesity is a hallmark of Cushing’s syndrome — in two mouse models of glucocorticoid excess. Importantly, the enzyme, called 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (HSD-1), also was found…

Adult stem cells derived from the belly skin of healthy people behaved in a similar way to fat cells when challenged to grow in an environment mimicking Cushing’s syndrome, a study found. According to the study’s authors, these cells “could represent a reliable model to track the mechanisms” involved in…

A man with exogenous, or therapy-related, Cushing’s syndrome, caused by long-term glucocorticoid use for Crohn’s disease, developed adrenal insufficiency after going into septic shock, a case study reported. This case highlights the dangers of adrenal insufficiency in patients on long-term glucocorticoid therapy during severe illness, and the need for quick…

Ultrasound scans can be useful to monitor muscle changes in patients with glucocorticoid-induced muscle disease or steroid myopathy, and could become an effective routine procedure for those with Cushing’s disease, a study reports. The study, “Ultrasound‑based detection of glucocorticoid‑induced impairments of muscle mass and structure in Cushing’s disease,” was published…

A type of immune cell called a macrophage in the gonadal fat tissue may be key in glucocorticoid-induced insulin resistance in patients with Cushing’s syndrome, according to a mouse study. The study, “Glucocorticoid-induced insulin resistance is related to macrophage visceral adipose tissue infiltration,” appeared in the…

Local treatment of eye inflammation with steroid medication may cause Cushing’s syndrome and adrenal insufficiency in babies, according to a small study from Denmark. The study, “Adrenal Suppression in Infants Treated with Topical Ocular Glucocorticoids,” published in the journal Ophthalmology, recommends that such treatments, when necessary,…