Subclinical Cushing’s syndrome: lots of questions — little answers

Abstract

The literature review provides a definition of the essence of subclinical Cushing’s syndrome. Subclinical Cushing’s syndrome (subclinical hypercortisolism) is a pathological condition of the body characterized by an autonomous, excessive secretion of glucocorticoids, most often an adrenal cortex adenoma, suppression of the adrenocorticotropic function of the pituitary gland and the functional state of the opposite adrenal gland. Such a condition may be clinically asymptomatic or be accompanied by some nonspecific signs of hypercortisolism (arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, osteoporosis). Noteworthy is the large variability in the frequency of its detection, which is possibly due to the use of various criteria for assigning individual cases to this category. As a basic screening test for the detection of subclinical hypercortisolism, most researchers consider the most acceptable and effective night suppressive test with 1.0 mg of dexamethasone. Modern tactical and technical approaches to the treatment of subclinical Cushing’s syndrome are quite diverse and are more often based on pragmatic principles than on reliably substantiated ones. The author raises the question: could subclinical Cushing’s syndrome be the result of hyperfunction of normal or diffusely enlarged (hyperplastic) adrenal glands as a result of some disturbances in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal hierarchy. And, finally, are the disorders “accompanying” subclinical Cushing’s syndrome a consequence of the overproduction of cortisol, although often insignificant, or can they be the cause of the onset of subclinical hypercortisolism? For the treatment of subclinical hypercortisolism, adrenalectomy is currently proposed, with the aim of reducing the intake of excessive amounts of glucocorticoids into the patient’s body, leading to the development of these disorders. Known drug methods of suppressing the function of the adrenal cortex — drugs chloditan, mitotane, ketoconazole.

Keywords

• subclinical cushing’s syndrome, frequency, diagnosis, treatment, review