What is Cushing's syndrome?

Contents

Cushing's syndrome: Introduction
Types of Cushing's syndrome
Prognosis
Complications
Prevalence
Other names for Cushing's syndrome
Who gets Cushing's syndrome?
What causes Cushing's syndrome?
What are the symptoms of Cushing's syndrome?
Organs Affected by Cushing's syndrome
How is it treated?
Society issues for Cushing's syndrome
Cushing's syndrome: Introduction

What is Cushing's syndrome?

Cushing's syndrome: A rare syndrome where excessive secretion of corticosteroids by the adrenal cortex leads to a variety of symptoms. Hormone-secreting adrenal or pituitary tumors are often the cause of the excessive corticosteroid secretion.
Cushing's syndrome: A condition caused by prolonged exposure to excess levels of cortisol (HYDROCORTISONE) or other GLUCOCORTICOIDS from endogenous or exogenous sources. It is characterized by upper body OBESITY; OSTEOPOROSIS; HYPERTENSION; DIABETES MELLITUS; HIRSUTISM; AMENORRHEA; and excess body fluid. Endogenous Cushing syndrome or spontaneous hypercortisolism is divided into two groups, those due to an excess of ADRENOCORTICOTROPIN and those that are ACTH-independent.
Source - Diseases Database
Cushing's syndrome: a glandular disorder caused by excessive cortisol.
Source - WordNet 2.1

Cushing's syndrome is listed as a "rare disease" by the Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This means that Cushing's syndrome, or a subtype of Cushing's syndrome, affects less than 200,000 people in the US population.
Source - National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Ophanet, a consortium of European partners, currently defines a condition rare when it affects 1 person per 2,000. They list Cushing's syndrome as a "rare disease".
Source - Orphanet

Introduction: Cushing's syndrome:

Cushing's syndrome is a disorder of the adrenal glands leading to excess cortisol secretion. This means that there is too much cortisol hormone in the blood. It can be caused by an adrenal gland failure, or it can result from a pituitary tumor or other tumor that secretes ACTH which in turn stimulates the adrenal glands to over-produce cortisol. ...more »

Types of Cushing's syndrome:

Types of Cushing's syndrome:

Cushing's disease - called a "disease" rather than a "syndrome" when caused by a pituitary adenoma
Ectopic ACTH Syndrome - when Cushing's caused by a non-pituitary tumor
Familial Cushing's Syndrome
more types...»

Broader types of Cushing's syndrome:

How many people get Cushing's syndrome?

Prevalance of Cushing's syndrome: 2-5 per million (NIDCD); 10 per million; 10-15 per million
Prevalance Rate of Cushing's syndrome: approx 1 in 500,000 or 0.00% or 543 people in USA [about data]
Incidence (annual) of Cushing's syndrome: estimated 10 to 15 per million people develop Cushing’s syndrome each year in the US (NIDDK, NIH, 2002)
Incidence Rate of Cushing's syndrome: approx 1 in 100,000 or 0.00% or 2,720 people in USA [about data]
Prevalance of Cushing's syndrome: it is relatively rare and most commonly affects adults aged 20 to 50. An estimated 10 to 15 of every million people are affected each year. (Source: excerpt from Cushing's Syndrome: NIDDK)

Who gets Cushing's syndrome?

Patient Profile for Cushing's syndrome: Mainly adults 20-50, though any age possible. 10% of cases are in children and adolescents.

Gender Ratio for Cushing's syndrome: females:males 5:1

How serious is Cushing's syndrome?

Prognosis of Cushing's syndrome: Many cases can be cured. Results depend on the underlying cause and severity of the problem.
Complications of Cushing's syndrome: see complications of Cushing's syndrome
Prognosis of Cushing's syndrome: The prognosis for individuals with Cushing's syndrome varies depending on the cause of overproduction of cortisol. With treatment, most individuals with Cushing's syndrome show significant improvement, while improvement for others may be complicated by various aspects of the causative illness. Some kinds of tumors may recur. Most cases of Cushing's can be cured. (Source: excerpt from NINDS Cushing's Syndrome Information Page: NINDS)

What causes Cushing's syndrome?

Causes of Cushing's syndrome: see causes of Cushing's syndrome
Causes of Cushing's syndrome: Cushing's syndrome occurs when the body's tissues are exposed to excessive levels of cortisol for long periods of time. (Source: excerpt from Cushing's Syndrome: NIDDK) ... It may be caused by either prolonged exposure of the body's tissues to high levels of the hormone cortisol or by the overproduction of cortisol in the body. (Source: excerpt from NINDS Cushing's Syndrome Information Page: NINDS)

What are the symptoms of Cushing's syndrome?

Symptoms of Cushing's syndrome: see symptoms of Cushing's syndrome

Complications of Cushing's syndrome: see complications of Cushing's syndrome

Cushing's syndrome: Testing

Diagnostic testing: see tests for Cushing's syndrome.

Misdiagnosis: see misdiagnosis and Cushing's syndrome.

How is it treated?

Treatments for Cushing's syndrome: see treatments for Cushing's syndrome
Research for Cushing's syndrome: see research for Cushing's syndrome

Society issues for Cushing's syndrome

Hospitalization statistics for Cushing's syndrome: The following are statistics from various sources about hospitalizations and Cushing's syndrome:

0.008% (1,067) of hospital consultant episodes were for cushing’s syndrome in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
94% of hospital consultant episodes for cushing’s syndrome required hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
24% of hospital consultant episodes for cushing’s syndrome were for men in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
66% of hospital consultant episodes for cushing’s syndrome were for women in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
9% of hospital consultant episodes for cushing’s syndrome required emergency hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
more statistics...»