Risk Factors (Cushing's Syndrome)

Overview: Cushing syndrome is a disease that occurs when your body produces too much of the hormone cortisol. It may also occur if you use take too much cortisol or other steroid hormones.

RISK FACTORS

Risk factors for Cushing syndrome are adrenal or pituitary tumors, long-term therapy with corticosteroids, and being female.

1.Cushing Syndrome caused by adrenal tumors: -caused by too much production of cortisol ( stress hormone) due to an adrenal gland tumor.

*Benign for eg. Adrenal adenomas or micronodular hypeplasia
*Malignant for eg. Adrenal carcinomas

2.Cushing Syndrome caused by corticosteroids – long term use of steroids/ drugs.
Drugs commonly used to treat conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and asthma.

3.Cushing Syndrome caused by pituitary tumor

*pituitary gland releases too much adrenocorticotropic hormone (ATCH).
*ACTH stimulates adrenal , increasing the production and release of cortisol.

Reference:
MedLinePlus
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000410.htm

Prepared by:

SRI MURNIATI ROSLI