Cushing disease prognosis?
-
A 33-year-old female with a history of gastritis, depression, and obesity presented to the dermatology clinic with a chief complaint of hair loss. She reported that the hair on her head began to thin rapidly 6 months prior to presentation, although she had been experiencing progressive thinning for about 1 year. There was minimal improvement with daily minoxidil 5% foam after 3 months. The patient had a pituitary microadenoma that was known to exist for at least a decade, but a recent magnetic resonance imaging had shown the microadenoma to be stable in size. Serum prolactin, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone levels were normal. What is the prognosis of the disease?
-
@nilanjana Cushing's syndrome is a disorder caused by prolonged exposure of the body's tissues to high levels of corticosteroids (glucocorticoids). Corticosteroids are powerful steroid hormones produced by the adrenal glands, located above each kidney. They regulate the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. They reduce the immune system's inflammatory responses and help to maintain blood pressure and heart function. A vital function of corticosteroids is to help the body respond to stress. Endogenous Cushing's syndrome is the result of the autonomous, unregulated production of corticosteroids by a tumor within one or both of the adrenal glands themselves. The most common cause of Cushing's syndrome, however, is exogenous Cushing's syndrome, which results from taking excessive amounts of corticosteroid drugs.