Cushing's syndrome; exogenous

Alternative names:

corticosteroid-induced Cushing's syndrome; Cushing's syndrome - corticosteroid induced

Definition:

Cushing's syndrome symptoms caused by administration of glucocorticoid hormones.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Cushing's syndrome is due to a condition of excess glucocorticoid hormone over a long period of time. There are several causes of Cushing's syndrome. Exogenous Cushing's syndrome is caused by chronic administration of corticosteroids--drugs commonly used to treat conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and asthma. Other causes are secretion of ACTH by a tumor in another organ known as ectopic Cushing's syndrome, oversecretion by the pituitary gland of the hormone adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and cortisol secreting adrenal tumors. The incidence of exogenous Cushing's syndrome is 4 out of 100,000 people.