Endocrinologist Zakopane – Specialist outpatient clinics Medical Clinic Podhale Art. We cordially invite you!

Cushing’s syndrome is a group of multiple clinical symptoms caused by an excess of glucocorticosteroids in the body. It may be caused by excessive secretion of cortisol by the adrenal glands. It may be related, inter alia, to with a tumor of the adrenal gland or an adenoma of the pituitary gland that controls the adrenal glands. People who take long-term glucocorticosteroid drugs, used for example in the treatment of inflammatory diseases such as RA (rheumatoid arthritis), lupus, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, and to prevent organ rejection after transplantation, are also exposed to this disease.

The most characteristic symptoms are:

• skin changes – especially purple-pink stretch marks on the abdomen, thighs, breasts and arms,
• a significant increase in weight and the characteristic accumulation of fat around the abdomen, neck (so-called buffalo neck) and face (becomes strongly rounded).

In addition, they may appear, for example:

• general fatigue and muscle weakness,
• changes in the skin – reducing its thickness, tendency to bruise and damage, and slow wound healing,
• psychological problems: aggression, anxiety, depressive attacks, problems with controlling emotions,
• headaches and dizziness,
• glucose intolerance, often leading to diabetes,
• frequent urination with increased thirst,
• osteoporosis,
• hypertension,
• urolithiasis,
• decrease in sexual potency in men,
• menstrual disorders in women.

If you notice this type of symptoms, we invite you to consult our endocrinology clinic at the Medical Clinic Podhale Art in Zakopane.

The goal of treating Cushing’s syndrome is to eliminate, stop or minimize the body’s exposure to excess cortisol. However, treatment is selected depending on the cause. In the case of a single benign tumor of the adrenal gland or an enlarged adrenal gland, the affected gland may be surgically removed. In many cases, the cortisol activity then returns to normal (or slightly deviates from it), however, for some time the patient may require additional treatment, as the production of cortisol in the remaining adrenal gland may be reduced in response to excessive secretion by the diseased gland. It will take some time for the adrenal glands to become fully functional.

If the cause is a pituitary tumor producing ACTH, removing it will solve the problem of excess cortisol activity in the body. If it is not possible to remove the tumor, radiotherapy can be used. If the cause is an ACTH-producing extra-pituitary tumor, surgery, radiation therapy, and / or chemotherapy may be necessary.

If the cause of Cushing’s syndrome is taking corticosteroids, the patient and the doctor should decide on a dose limitation to the necessary minimum. It is important not to stop taking your medication suddenly, the dosage should be changed slowly.

We cordially invite you to the endocrinology clinic at the Medical Clinic Podhale Art in Zakopane, where experienced specialists deal with the diagnosis and treatment of adrenal diseases.

Endocrinologist Zakopane – Specialist outpatient clinics Medical Clinic Podhale Art, Chramcówki 7, tel: +48 570 401 401