Oki Y, Hashimoto K, Hirata Y, Iwasaki Y, Nigawara T, Doi M, Sakihara S, Kageyama K, Suda T.
Development and validation of a 0.5 mg dexamethasone suppression test as an initial screening test for the diagnosis of ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome.
Endocr J. 2009;56(7):897-904. doi: 10.1507/endocrj.k09e-194. Epub 2009 Aug 25.
Abstract/Text
For the diagnosis of Cushing' s syndrome (CS), the overnight 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test (DST) has been widely used as a standard low-dose DST. However, it is evident that 1 mg DST may not be sensitive enough to detect CS when the cortisol cut-off concentration is 5 microg/dL. Therefore, we developed and validated 0.5 mg DST as a new screening method for diagnosis of ACTH-dependent CS. To compare 0.5 mg DST with 1 mg DST, 110 patients with ACTH-dependent CS were enrolled, including 88 with Cushing' s disease (CD), 8 with subclinical CD and 14 with ectopic ACTH syndrome, as well as 134 control subjects. Subjects were given either 0.5 mg or 1 mg dexamethasone orally at 23:00 on different days, with blood samples collected the following morning between 8:00 and 9:00 to determine plasma cortisol concentration. The area under the receiver operator characteristics curve observing the 0.5 mg DST was higher than that of the 1 mg DST. The most sensitive and specific cut-off value of plasma cortisol concentration using 0.5 mg DST was found to be 3.05 microg/dL with 99.1% sensitivity and 98.4% specificity, identical to the 3 microg/dL cut-off currently used in the Japanese guideline for diagnosis of subclinical CD. In conclusion, 0.5 mg DST is a sensitive and specific screening test for diagnosis of ACTH-dependent CS. We recommend 0.5 mg DST with a cortisol cut-off concentration of 3 microg/dL to be used as the initial step in diagnosing ACTH-dependent CS.
Nieman LK, Biller BM, Findling JW, Newell-Price J, Savage MO, Stewart PM, Montori VM.
The diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome: an Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2008 May;93(5):1526-40. doi: 10.1210/jc.2008-0125. Epub 2008 Mar 11.
Abstract/Text
OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to develop clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome.
PARTICIPANTS: The Task Force included a chair, selected by the Clinical Guidelines Subcommittee (CGS) of The Endocrine Society, five additional experts, a methodologist, and a medical writer. The Task Force received no corporate funding or remuneration.
CONSENSUS PROCESS: Consensus was guided by systematic reviews of evidence and discussions. The guidelines were reviewed and approved sequentially by The Endocrine Society's CGS and Clinical Affairs Core Committee, members responding to a web posting, and The Endocrine Society Council. At each stage the Task Force incorporated needed changes in response to written comments.
CONCLUSIONS: After excluding exogenous glucocorticoid use, we recommend testing for Cushing's syndrome in patients with multiple and progressive features compatible with the syndrome, particularly those with a high discriminatory value, and patients with adrenal incidentaloma. We recommend initial use of one test with high diagnostic accuracy (urine cortisol, late night salivary cortisol, 1 mg overnight or 2 mg 48-h dexamethasone suppression test). We recommend that patients with an abnormal result see an endocrinologist and undergo a second test, either one of the above or, in some cases, a serum midnight cortisol or dexamethasone-CRH test. Patients with concordant abnormal results should undergo testing for the cause of Cushing's syndrome. Patients with concordant normal results should not undergo further evaluation. We recommend additional testing in patients with discordant results, normal responses suspected of cyclic hypercortisolism, or initially normal responses who accumulate additional features over time.
Oldfield EH, Doppman JL, Nieman LK, Chrousos GP, Miller DL, Katz DA, Cutler GB Jr, Loriaux DL.
Petrosal sinus sampling with and without corticotropin-releasing hormone for the differential diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome.
N Engl J Med. 1991 Sep 26;325(13):897-905. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199109263251301.
Abstract/Text
BACKGROUND: Measurement of adrenocorticotropin levels in plasma from the inferior petrosal sinuses of patients with Cushing's syndrome can distinguish adrenocorticotropin-secreting pituitary tumors (Cushing's disease) from other causes of the syndrome, principally ectopic adrenocorticotropin secretion from an occult tumor. However, it is unknown whether such measurement consistently identifies patients with Cushing's disease and whether testing with corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) enhances the value of the procedure.
METHODS: We prospectively studied 281 patients with Cushing's syndrome to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of the procedure. Bilateral sampling was successfully accomplished in 278 patients, with no major morbidity; 262 of these patients underwent sampling before and after administration of ovine CRH. The adrenocorticotropin levels in the samples were used to calculate the ratio of the concentration in plasma from the inferior petrosal sinuses to the concentration in peripheral-blood plasma (the IPS:P ratio).
RESULTS: The diagnosis of 246 patients was confirmed surgically as Cushing's disease in 215, as ectopic adrenocorticotropin syndrome in 20, and as primary adrenal disease in 11. An IPS:P ratio greater than or equal to 2.0 in basal samples identified 205 of the 215 patients with Cushing's disease (sensitivity, 95 percent), with no false positive results (specificity, 100 percent). A peak IPS:P ratio greater than or equal to 3.0 after CRH administration identified all 203 of the patients with Cushing's disease who received CRH (sensitivity, 100 percent), with no false positive results (specificity, 100 percent). The sensitivity was much lower when the adrenocorticotropin concentrations in the samples from one sinus were considered alone. In patients with Cushing's disease a difference of greater than or equal to 1.4-fold between the concentrations in the two sinuses (the adrenocorticotropin gradient) predicted the location of the microadenoma in 68 percent of 104 patients during basal sampling and in 71 percent of 105 patients after CRH administration.
CONCLUSIONS: Simultaneous bilateral sampling of plasma from the inferior petrosal sinuses, with the adjunctive use of CRH, distinguishes patients with Cushing's disease from those with ectopic adrenocorticotropin secretion with high diagnostic accuracy.
Newell-Price J, Trainer P, Besser M, Grossman A.
The diagnosis and differential diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome and pseudo-Cushing's states.
Endocr Rev. 1998 Oct;19(5):647-72. doi: 10.1210/edrv.19.5.0346.
Abstract/Text
Gadelha M, Bex M, Feelders RA, Heaney AP, Auchus RJ, Gilis-Januszewska A, Witek P, Belaya Z, Yu Y, Liao Z, Ku CHC, Carvalho D, Roughton M, Wojna J, Pedroncelli AM, Snyder PJ.
Randomized Trial of Osilodrostat for the Treatment of Cushing Disease.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2022 Jun 16;107(7):e2882-e2895. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgac178.
Abstract/Text
CONTEXT: Cushing disease, a chronic hypercortisolism disorder, is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. Normalizing cortisol production is the primary treatment goal.
OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of osilodrostat, a potent, orally available 11βhydroxylase inhibitor, compared with placebo in patients with Cushing disease.
METHODS: LINC 4 was a phase III, multicenter trial comprising an initial 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled (osilodrostat:placebo, 2:1) period followed by a 36-week, open-label treatment period (NCT02697734). Adult patients (aged 18-75 years) with confirmed Cushing disease and mean urinary free cortisol (mUFC) excretion ≥ 1.3 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) were eligible. The primary endpoint was the proportion of randomized patients with mUFC ≤ ULN at week 12. The key secondary endpoint was the proportion achieving mUFC ≤ ULN at week 36 (after 24 weeks' open-label osilodrostat).
RESULTS: Seventy-three patients (median age, 39 years [range, 19-67]; mean/median mUFC, 3.1 × ULN/2.5 × ULN) received randomized treatment with osilodrostat (n = 48) or placebo (n = 25). At week 12, significantly more osilodrostat (77%) than placebo (8%) patients achieved mUFC ≤ ULN (odds ratio 43.4; 95% CI 7.1, 343.2; P < 0.0001). Response was maintained at week 36, when 81% (95% CI 69.9, 89.1) of all patients achieved mUFC ≤ ULN. The most common adverse events during the placebo-controlled period (osilodrostat vs placebo) were decreased appetite (37.5% vs 16.0%), arthralgia (35.4% vs 8.0%), and nausea (31.3% vs 12.0%).
CONCLUSION: Osilodrostat rapidly normalized mUFC excretion in most patients with Cushing disease and maintained this effect throughout the study. The safety profile was favorable.
© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Endocrine Society.
Biller BM, Grossman AB, Stewart PM, Melmed S, Bertagna X, Bertherat J, Buchfelder M, Colao A, Hermus AR, Hofland LJ, Klibanski A, Lacroix A, Lindsay JR, Newell-Price J, Nieman LK, Petersenn S, Sonino N, Stalla GK, Swearingen B, Vance ML, Wass JA, Boscaro M.
Treatment of adrenocorticotropin-dependent Cushing's syndrome: a consensus statement.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2008 Jul;93(7):2454-62. doi: 10.1210/jc.2007-2734. Epub 2008 Apr 15.
Abstract/Text
OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to evaluate the published literature and reach a consensus on the treatment of patients with ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome, because there is no recent consensus on the management of this rare disorder.
PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-two leading endocrinologists, clinicians, and neurosurgeons with specific expertise in the management of ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome representing nine countries were chosen to address 1) criteria for cure and remission of this disorder, 2) surgical treatment of Cushing's disease, 3) therapeutic options in the event of persistent disease after transsphenoidal surgery, 4) medical therapy of Cushing's disease, and 5) management of ectopic ACTH syndrome, Nelson's syndrome, and special patient populations.
EVIDENCE: Participants presented published scientific data, which formed the basis of the recommendations. Opinion shared by a majority of experts was used where strong evidence was lacking.
CONSENSUS PROCESS: Participants met for 2 d, during which there were four chaired sessions of presentations, followed by general discussion where a consensus was reached. The consensus statement was prepared by a steering committee and was then reviewed by all authors, with suggestions incorporated if agreed upon by the majority.
CONCLUSIONS: ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome is a heterogeneous disorder requiring a multidisciplinary and individualized approach to patient management. Generally, the treatment of choice for ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome is curative surgery with selective pituitary or ectopic corticotroph tumor resection. Second-line treatments include more radical surgery, radiation therapy (for Cushing's disease), medical therapy, and bilateral adrenalectomy. Because of the significant morbidity of Cushing's syndrome, early diagnosis and prompt therapy are warranted.
Petersenn S, Beckers A, Ferone D, van der Lely A, Bollerslev J, Boscaro M, Brue T, Bruzzi P, Casanueva FF, Chanson P, Colao A, Reincke M, Stalla G, Tsagarakis S.
Therapy of endocrine disease: outcomes in patients with Cushing's disease undergoing transsphenoidal surgery: systematic review assessing criteria used to define remission and recurrence.
Eur J Endocrinol. 2015 Jun;172(6):R227-39. doi: 10.1530/EJE-14-0883. Epub 2015 Jan 19.
Abstract/Text
OBJECTIVE: A number of factors can influence the reported outcomes of transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) for Cushing's disease - including different remission and recurrence criteria, for which there is no consensus. Therefore, a comparative analysis of the best treatment options and patient management strategies is difficult. In this review, we investigated the clinical outcomes of initial TSS in patients with Cushing's disease based on definitions of and assessments for remission and recurrence.
METHODS: We systematically searched PubMed and identified 44 studies with clear definitions of remission and recurrence. When data were available, additional analyses by time of remission, tumor size, duration of follow-up, surgical experience, year of study publication and adverse events related to surgery were performed.
RESULTS: Data from a total of 6400 patients who received microscopic TSS were extracted and analyzed. A variety of definitions of remission and recurrence of Cushing's disease after initial microscopic TSS was used, giving broad ranges of remission (42.0-96.6%; median, 77.9%) and recurrence (0-47.4%; median, 11.5%). Better remission and recurrence outcomes were achieved for microadenomas vs macroadenomas; however, no correlations were found with other parameters, other than improved safety with longer surgical experience.
CONCLUSIONS: The variety of methodologies used in clinical evaluation of TSS for Cushing's disease strongly support the call for standardization and optimization of studies to inform clinical practice and maximize patient outcomes. Clinically significant rates of failure of initial TSS highlight the need for effective second-line treatments.
© 2015 European Society of Endocrinology.
Fleseriu M, Auchus R, Bancos I, Ben-Shlomo A, Bertherat J, Biermasz NR, Boguszewski CL, Bronstein MD, Buchfelder M, Carmichael JD, Casanueva FF, Castinetti F, Chanson P, Findling J, Gadelha M, Geer EB, Giustina A, Grossman A, Gurnell M, Ho K, Ioachimescu AG, Kaiser UB, Karavitaki N, Katznelson L, Kelly DF, Lacroix A, McCormack A, Melmed S, Molitch M, Mortini P, Newell-Price J, Nieman L, Pereira AM, Petersenn S, Pivonello R, Raff H, Reincke M, Salvatori R, Scaroni C, Shimon I, Stratakis CA, Swearingen B, Tabarin A, Takahashi Y, Theodoropoulou M, Tsagarakis S, Valassi E, Varlamov EV, Vila G, Wass J, Webb SM, Zatelli MC, Biller BMK.
Consensus on diagnosis and management of Cushing's disease: a guideline update.
Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2021 Dec;9(12):847-875. doi: 10.1016/S2213-8587(21)00235-7. Epub 2021 Oct 20.
Abstract/Text
Cushing's disease requires accurate diagnosis, careful treatment selection, and long-term management to optimise patient outcomes. The Pituitary Society convened a consensus workshop comprising more than 50 academic researchers and clinical experts to discuss the application of recent evidence to clinical practice. In advance of the virtual meeting, data from 2015 to present about screening and diagnosis; surgery, medical, and radiation therapy; and disease-related and treatment-related complications of Cushing's disease summarised in recorded lectures were reviewed by all participants. During the meeting, concise summaries of the recorded lectures were presented, followed by small group breakout discussions. Consensus opinions from each group were collated into a draft document, which was reviewed and approved by all participants. Recommendations regarding use of laboratory tests, imaging, and treatment options are presented, along with algorithms for diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome and management of Cushing's disease. Topics considered most important to address in future research are also identified.
Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Rutkowski MJ, Flanigan PM, Aghi MK.
Update on the management of recurrent Cushing's disease.
Neurosurg Focus. 2015 Feb;38(2):E16. doi: 10.3171/2014.11.FOCUS14703.
Abstract/Text
After transsphenoidal surgery, Cushing's disease (CD) shows excellent long-term remission rates, but it may recur and pose a therapeutic challenge. Findings in recent published reports on the treatment of recurrent adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-secreting tumors suggest that repeat resection, radiation-based therapies such as Gamma Knife surgery and proton-beam radiosurgery, pharmacotherapy, and bilateral adrenalectomy all have important roles in the treatment of recurrent CD. Each of these interventions has inherent risks and benefits that should be presented to the patient during counseling on retreatment options. Radiation-based therapies increasingly appear to have efficacies similar to those of repeat resection in achieving biochemical remission and tumor control. In addition, an expanding retinue of medication-based therapies, several of which are currently being evaluated in clinical trials, has shown some promise as tertiary adjunctive therapies. Lastly, bilateral adrenalectomy may offer durable control of refractory recurrent CD. An increasing number of published studies with long-term patient outcomes highlight the evolving treatment patterns in the management of recurrent CD.
