Symptoms of Cushing's syndrome

List of symptoms of Cushing's syndrome:

The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources for Cushing's syndrome includes the 81 symptoms listed below:

• Specific childhood or adolescent Cushing's symptoms:
  • Extreme weight gain
  • Growth retardation
  • Missed periods - in teenage girls
  • Excess hair growth
  • Body hair growth
  • Facial hair growth
  • Acne
  • Reddish-blue streaks on the skin
  • High blood pressure
  • Tiredness
  • Muscle weakness
  • Very early puberty
  • Very late puberty
• Adult Cushing's symptoms
  • Extreme weight gain
    • Upper body obesity
    • Rounded face
    • Increased neck fat
  • Excess hair growth
  • High blood pressure
  • Sleep disturbances
  • High blood sugar
  • Diabetes-like symptoms
  • Hyperadrenocorticism
  • Bruising easily
  • Skin problems
    • Thin skin
    • Fragile skin
    • Poor healing
    • Stretch marks
    • Abdominal stretch marks
  • Mood changes
    • Irritability
    • Anxiety
    • Depression
    • Moodiness
    • Fatigue
    • Mental disturbances
  • Weak muscles
    • Backaches
    • Thinning arms
    • Thinning legs
  • Weak bones
    • Rib fractures
    • Spinal column fractures
  • Sexual and fertility problems
    • Irregular menstrual periods
    • Absent menstrual periods
    • Reduced libido
    • Reduced male fertility
    • Virilisation
    • Deepening voice
    • Balding
    • Loss of scalp hair
    • Hirsutism
    • Increased facial hair
    • Increased body hair
• Increased weight
• Rounded face
• Obesity around trunk
• Slender limbs
• Red face
• Thin skin
• Fragile skin
• Slow-healing skin
• Weakened connective tissue
• Reddish-blue stretch marks
• Excessive hair thickness in women
• Menstrual disorders
• Impaired male fertility
• Reduced male sex drive
• Absent male sex drive
• Hypertension
• Brittle bones
• Fractures
• Osteoporosis
• Hyperglycemia
• Severe weakness
• Fatigue
• Psychiatric disturbances

Note that Cushing's syndrome symptoms usually refers to various symptoms known to a patient, but the phrase Cushing's syndrome signs may refer to those signs only noticable by a doctor.

More ways to research these symptoms: To research other symptoms use the symptom center, or to research causes of more than one symptom in combination, try our multi-symptom search.

Research More About Cushing's syndrome

Do I have Cushing's syndrome?

• Cushing's syndrome: Introduction
• Cushing's syndrome: Diagnostic Testing to confirm diagnosis
• Alternative diagnoses and misdiagnosis for Cushing's syndrome
• Hidden Causes of Cushing's syndrome
• How serious is it?
• Treatments for Cushing's syndrome
• More about Cushing's syndrome

Wrongly Diagnosed with Cushing's syndrome?

The list of other diseases or medical conditions that may be on the differential diagnosis list of alternative diagnoses for Cushing's syndrome includes:

• Polycystic ovarian syndrome
• Metabolic syndrome
• Chronic alcoholism (see Alcohol abuse)
• Diabetes mellitus
• Depression

See the full list of 20 alternative diagnoses for Cushing's syndrome

More about symptoms of Cushing's syndrome:

More information about symptoms of Cushing's syndrome and related conditions:

• Other diseases with similar symptoms and common misdiagnoses
• Tests to determine if these are the symptoms of Cushing's syndrome
• Symptoms that may be caused by complications of Cushing's syndrome
• Underlying causes of Cushing's syndrome
• Associated conditions for Cushing's syndrome

Other Possible Causes of these Symptoms

Click on any of the symptoms below to see a full list of other causes including diseases, medical conditions, toxins, drug interactions, or drug side effect causes of that symptom.

• Abdominal stretch marks - see all causes of Stretch marks
• Absent male sex drive - see all causes of Low libido
• Absent menstrual periods - see all causes of Amenorrhea
• Acne - see all causes of Acne
• Adult Cushing's symptoms - see all causes of Cushing-like symptoms
• Anxiety - see all causes of Anxiety
• Backaches - see all causes of Back pain
• Balding - see all causes of Baldness
• Body hair growth - see all causes of Hairiness
• Brittle bones - see all causes of Weak bones
• Bruising easily - see all causes of Bruising
• Deepening voice - see all causes of Deepening voice
• Depression - see all causes of Depressive symptoms
• Diabetes-like symptoms - see all causes of Diabetes-like symptoms
• Excess hair growth - see all causes of Excess hair growth
• Excess hair growth - see all causes of Excess hair growth
• Excessive hair thickness in women - see all causes of Hairiness
• Extreme weight gain - see all causes of Weight gain
• Extreme weight gain - see all causes of Weight gain
• Facial hair growth - see all causes of Facial hair growth
• Fatigue - see all causes of Fatigue
• Fatigue - see all causes of Fatigue
• Fractures - see all causes of Fractures
• Fragile skin - see all causes of Weak skin
• Fragile skin - see all causes of Weak skin
• Growth retardation - see all causes of Poor growth
• High blood pressure - see all causes of High blood pressure
• High blood pressure - see all causes of High blood pressure
• High blood sugar - see all causes of High blood sugar
• Hirsutism - see all causes of Hirsutism
• Hyperadrenocorticism - see all causes of Adrenal gland symptoms
• Hyperglycemia - see all causes of Hyperglycemia
• Hypertension - see all causes of High blood pressure
• Impaired male fertility - see all causes of Male infertility
• Increased body hair - see all causes of Hairiness
• Increased facial hair - see all causes of Increased facial hair
• Increased neck fat - see all causes of Neck symptoms
• Increased weight - see all causes of Weight gain
• Irregular menstrual periods - see all causes of Menstrual irregularities
• Irritability - see all causes of Irritability
• Loss of scalp hair - see all causes of Hair loss
• Menstrual disorders - see all causes of Menstrual disorders
• Mental disturbances - see all causes of Cognitive impairment
• Missed periods - see all causes of Missed periods
• Mood changes - see all causes of Moodiness
• Moodiness - see all causes of Moodiness
• Muscle weakness - see all causes of Muscle weakness
• Obesity around trunk - see all causes of Obesity
• Osteoporosis - see all causes of Osteoporosis
• Poor healing - see all causes of Poor healing
• Psychiatric disturbances - see all causes of Psychological problems
• Red face - see all causes of Red face
• Reddish-blue streaks on the skin - see all causes of Streaks
• Reddish-blue stretch marks - see all causes of Red skin
• Reduced libido - see all causes of Low libido
• Reduced male fertility - see all causes of Fertility symptoms
• Reduced male sex drive - see all causes of Low libido
• Rib fractures - see all causes of Fractures
• Rounded face - see all causes of Facial feature symptoms
• Rounded face - see all causes of Facial feature symptoms
• Severe weakness - see all causes of Weakness
• Sexual and fertility problems - see all causes of Fertility symptoms
• Skin problems - see all causes of Skin problems
• Sleep disturbances - see all causes of Sleep disturbances
• Slow-healing skin - see all causes of Poor healing
• Spinal column fractures - see all causes of Fractures
• Stretch marks - see all causes of Stretch marks
• Thin skin - see all causes of Thin skin
• Thin skin - see all causes of Thin skin
• Thinning arms - see all causes of Arm symptoms
• Thinning legs - see all causes of Leg symptoms
• Tiredness - see all causes of Tiredness
• Upper body obesity - see all causes of Obesity
• Very early puberty - see all causes of Early puberty
• Very late puberty - see all causes of Puberty symptoms
• Weak bones - see all causes of Weak bones
• Weak muscles - see all causes of Muscle weakness

Medical Books Online about Cushing's syndrome

Medical Books Excerpts Excerpts of published medical book chapters related to Cushing's syndrome are available from published medical books for more detailed information about Cushing's syndrome.

Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

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Symptoms of Cushing's syndrome: Online Medical Books

16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE! Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration, for more information about the symptoms of Cushing's syndrome.

Adrenal crisis: Signs and Symptoms
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

Profound weakness, nausea, vomiting, hypotension, dehydration, high fever followed by hypothermia, vascular collapse, renal shutdown, coma

READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Cushing's syndrome: Signs and symptoms
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

Like other endocrine disorders, Cushing’s syndrome induces changes in multiple body systems, depending on the adrenocortical hormone involved. Clinical effects may include the following:

❑ Endocrine and metabolic systems: diabetes mellitus, with decreased glucose tolerance, fasting hyperglycemia, and glycosuria

❑ Musculoskeletal system: muscle weakness due to hypokalemia or to loss of muscle mass from increased catabolism, pathologic fractures due to decreased bone mineral, and skeletal growth retardation in children

❑ Skin: purplish striae; fat pads above the clavicles, over the upper back (buffalo hump), on the face (moon face), and throughout the trunk, with slender arms and legs; little or no scar formation; poor wound healing; acne and hirsutism in females

❑ GI system: peptic ulcer, resulting from increased gastric secretions and pepsin production, and decreased gastric mucus

❑ Central nervous system (CNS): irritability and emotional lability, ranging from euphoric behavior to depression or psychosis; insomnia

❑ Cardiovascular system: hypertension due to sodium and water retention; left ventricular hypertrophy; capillary weakness due to protein loss, which leads to bleeding, petechiae, and ecchymosis

❑ Immune system: increased susceptibility to infection due to decreased lymphocyte production and suppressed antibody formation; decreased resistance to stress (Suppressed inflammatory response may mask even a severe infection.)

❑ Renal and urologic systems: sodium and secondary fluid retention, increased potassium excretion, inhibited antidiuretic hormone secretion, ureteral calculi from increased bone demineralization with hypercalciuria

❑ Reproductive system: increased androgen production with clitoral hypertrophy, mild virilism, and amenorrhea or oligomenorrhea in females. Sexual dysfunction also occurs.

READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Cushing's syndrome: Signs and symptoms
(Handbook of Diseases)

Like other endocrine disorders, Cushing’s syndrome induces changes in multiple body systems, depending on the adrenocortical hormone involved. Specific signs and symptoms vary with the system affected.

❑ Endocrine and metabolic systems: diabetes mellitus, with decreased glucose tolerance, fasting hyperglycemia, and glycosuria

❑ Musculoskeletal system: muscle weakness resulting from hypokalemia or loss of muscle mass from increased catabolism, pathologic fractures from decreased bone mineral, and skeletal growth retardation in children

❑ Skin: purplish striae; fat pads above the clavicles, over the upper back (buffalo hump), on the face (moon face), and throughout the trunk, with slender arms and legs; little or no scar formation; poor wound healing; acne and hirsutism in women

❑ GI system: peptic ulcer, resulting from increased gastric secretions and pepsin production, and decreased gastric mucus

❑ Central nervous system (CNS): irritability and emotional lability, ranging from euphoric behavior to depression or psychosis; insomnia

❑ Cardiovascular system: hypertension resulting from sodium and water retention; left ventricular hypertrophy; capillary weakness from protein loss, which leads to bleeding and ecchymosis

❑ Immunologic system: increased susceptibility to infection because of decreased lymphocyte production and suppressed antibody formation; decreased resistance to stress; suppressed inflammatory response may mask even a severe infection or an acute abdominal disorder

❑ Renal and urologic systems: sodium and secondary fluid retention; increased potassium excretion; inhibited secretion of antidiuretic hormone; ureteral calculi from increased bone demineralization with hypercalciuria

❑ Reproductive system: increased androgen production, with clitoral hypertrophy, mild virilism, and amenorrhea or oligomenorrhea in women; sexual dysfunction also occurs.

READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Article Excerpts About Symptoms of Cushing's syndrome:

Cushing's Syndrome: NIDDK (Excerpt)

Symptoms vary, but most people have upper body obesity, rounded face, increased fat around the neck, and thinning arms and legs. Children tend to be obese with slowed growth rates.

Other symptoms appear in the skin, which becomes fragile and thin. It bruises easily and heals poorly. Purplish pink stretch marks may appear on the abdomen, thighs, buttocks, arms and breasts. The bones are weakened, and routine activities such as bending, lifting or rising from a chair may lead to backaches, rib and spinal column fractures.

Most people have severe fatigue, weak muscles, high blood pressure and high blood sugar. Irritability, anxiety and depression are common.

Women usually have excess hair growth on their faces, necks, chests, abdomens, and thighs. Their menstrual periods may become irregular or stop. Men have decreased fertility with diminished or absent desire for sex. (Source: excerpt from Cushing's Syndrome: NIDDK)

NINDS Cushing's Syndrome Information Page: NINDS (Excerpt)

Common features of Cushing's syndrome include upper body obesity, severe fatigue and muscle weakness, high blood pressure, backache, elevated blood sugar, easy bruising, and bluish-red stretch marks on the skin. In women, there may be increased growth of facial and body hair, and menstrual periods may become irregular or stop completely. (Source: excerpt from NINDS Cushing's Syndrome Information Page: NINDS)

Cushing's syndrome as a Cause of Symptoms or Medical Conditions

When considering symptoms of Cushing's syndrome, it is also important to consider Cushing's syndrome as a possible cause of other medical conditions. The Disease Database lists the following medical conditions that Cushing's syndrome may cause:

• Abdominal pain
• Acneiform lesions
• Acute confusional state
• Amenorrhoea
• Aseptic necrosis of bone
• Cataracts
• Chloride levels raised (plasma or serum)
• Cushingoid facies
• Cushingoid habitus
• Dilated cardiomyopathy
• Female infertility
• Gastroduodenal ulcers
• Hirsutism
• Hypercalcaemia
• Hypercalciuria
• Hyperglycaemia
• Hyperlipidaemia
• Hypernatraemia
• Hypertension, systemic
• Hypokalaemia
• Obesity
• Osteoporosis
• Pathological fracture
• Polyuria
• Potassium levels raised (urine)
• Proximal muscle weakness
• Proximal myopathy
• Renin levels low (serum)
• Skin thinning
• Sodium levels low (urine)
• Striae
• Thyroid hormone binding globulin levels low (serum)
• Vascular hemostatic disorder
• Weight gain

Medical articles and books on symptoms:

These general reference articles may be of interest in relation to medical signs and symptoms of disease in general:

• Diagnostic Testing for a Diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome
• Research Alternative Diagnoses for Cushing's syndrome
• How serious is Cushing's syndrome?
• More about Cushing's syndrome
• Online Diagnosis
• Self Diagnosis Pitfalls
• Pitfalls of Online Diagnosis
• Symptoms of the Silent Killer Diseases
• Lesser known silent killer diseases
• Books on signs and symptoms

Full list of premium articles on symptoms and diagnosis

About signs and symptoms of Cushing's syndrome:

The symptom information on this page attempts to provide a list of some possible signs and symptoms of Cushing's syndrome. This signs and symptoms information for Cushing's syndrome has been gathered from various sources, may not be fully accurate, and may not be the full list of Cushing's syndrome signs or Cushing's syndrome symptoms. Furthermore, signs and symptoms of Cushing's syndrome may vary on an individual basis for each patient. Only your doctor can provide adequate diagnosis of any signs or symptoms and whether they are indeed Cushing's syndrome symptoms.