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Cushing syndrome - exogenous - Symptom

Alternative Names

Cushing syndrome - corticosteroid induced; Corticosteroid-induced Cushing syndrome; Iatrogenic Cushing syndrome; Exogenous Cushing syndrome

Symptoms:

  • Abdomen that sticks out and thin arms and legs (central obesity)
  • Acne
  • Collection of fat between the shoulders (buffalo hump)
  • Depression
  • Euphoria, not related to life situation
  • Excessive facial hair growth in females
  • Frequent and easy bruising
  • Headache
  • Impotence
  • Purple stretch marks on the skin of the abdomen, thighs, and breasts
  • Round, red, and full face (moon face)
  • Stopping of menstruation
  • Weakness
  • Weight gain

Other symptoms that may occur with this disease:

Signs and tests:

In people who use cortisone, prednisone, or other corticosteroids, the following test results may suggest exogenous Cushing syndrome:

  • Low ACTH level
  • Low cortisol level
  • No response to a cosyntropin stimulation test
  • Higher-than-normal fasting glucose
  • Low serum potassium
  • Low bone density, as measured by dual x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA)
  • High cholesterol, particularly high triglycerides and low high-density lipoprotein (HDL)

A method called high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) can show high levels of the suspected medication in the urine.

  • Reviewed last on: 3/18/2008
  • Elizabeth H. Holt, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Yale University. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Stewart PM. The Adrenal Cortex. In: Kronenberg: Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2008:chap 14.