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Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA Magic Foundation Symposium on Cushing’s Syndrome February 22, 2009 Las Vegas, NV

Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

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Page 1: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it

SeemsTheodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D.

Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University

Professor of Medicine-UCLA

Magic Foundation

Symposium on Cushing’s Syndrome

February 22, 2009

Las Vegas, NV

Page 2: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

States of Glucocorticoid Excess

• ACTH-dependent States• a. Pituitary Adenoma (Cushing’s Disease) 90-95%• b. Ectopic ACTH Syndrome• ACTH-independent States• a. Adrenal adenoma• b. Adrenal carcinoma• Exogenous Sources• Glucocorticoid intake• Psychiatric Conditions (Pseudo-Cushing Disorders)• a. Depression• b. Alcoholism• Pregnancy•

Page 3: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

Pseudo-Cushing StatesHigh Cortisol Secretion Rate without Convincing Clinical Features of

Cushing Syndrome

Page 4: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

Eucortisolemic Cushing Syndrome

Clinical Manifestations of Cushing Syndrome without evidence of increased cortisol levels

• Exogenous glucocorticoid administration• Episodic (periodic) Cushing syndrome-common• Recently cured Cushing syndrome

Page 5: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

Need to Distinguish Early or Mild Cushing’s from Other

Diseases

• Cushing’s is considered rare, but may not be that rare.

• It is vastly under diagnosed.• Other diseases that have some symptoms/signs in

common with Cushing’s (PCOS or Metabolic Syndrome) are more common, but present differently from Cushing’s. The treatment is different for these other diseases

• Thus, a strategy needs to be developed to diagnose Cushing’s syndrome.

Page 6: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

Is Cushing’s Syndrome Rare• Probably under-diagnosed• Catargi et al. JCEM 2003, 88:5808-200 consecutive overweight

patients with type 2 diabetes, but no other stigmata of hypercortisolism. 4 (2%) patietns were found to have Cushing’s syndrome and another 7 are being evaluated.

• Kadioglu et al. Endo Society 2004 86: P2-455- 100 consecutive obese patients. Cushing’s syndrome was diagnosed in 11%.

• Nishikawa et al. Endo Society 2004 86: P3-437- 1020 patients with hypertension. 11 had Cushing’s syndrome and 10 had subclinical Cushing’s syndrome (2%).

• These studies may have missed mild Cushing’s syndrome and may actually be low.

• Maybe Cushing’s syndrome is not so rare

Page 7: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

Do all diseases progress from mild to severe?

Rapid onset

Delayed onset

Linear

Page 8: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

Should Cushing’s be Diagnosed Early?

• Cushing’s Patients are miserable.• Effective treatment (surgery) exists• Lack of medicine for it, less pharmaceutical

funding.• Most doctors are not familiar with Cushing’s

syndrome and may only be familiar with severe cases.

Page 9: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

How to Diagnose Cushing’s Syndrome

• Careful history and physical

• Change in weight and body habitus

• Look at old pictures

• Not all patients have all signs and symptoms, especially “early” and “periodic” patients.

• Most published data compared severe Cushing’s with normals.

• Important to diagnose early before devastating sequelae develop.

• Initial diagnosis most difficult aspect of Cushing’s syndrome.

• “Gestalt” with as much information as possible

• Periodic Cushing’s common, so one positive test may be worth more than 10 negative tests

• Make the diagnosis before proceeding to the differential diagnosis??

Page 10: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

IMPORTANT SYMPTOMS• Wired at night• Trouble sleeping-trouble falling asleep or frequent awakenings• Severe fatigue-new onset• Abrupt weight gain-without other cause such as decreased activity

or depression• Decreased ability to exercise• Menstrual abnormalities• Cognitive changes- “brain fog”• Decreased Libido• Symptoms of adrenal insufficiency-joint pains, can’t get out of bed,

nausea and vomiting• Depression, anxiety, mood-swings

Page 11: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

IMPORTANT SIGNS

• Central obesity• Muscle atrophy• Thin skin• Buffalo hump• Round, red face• Bruising• Extra hair growth• Acne• Loss of hair on head• Stretch marks

Page 12: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

Signs/Symptoms

• Most patients don’t have all these signs/symptoms

• Many doctors may have only seen 1 case of Cushing’s and textbooks may show only severe cases.

Page 13: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

The Diagnosis of Cushing’s Syndrome: An EndocrineSociety Clinical Practice Guideline

J Clin Endocrinol Metab. May 2008, 93(5):1526–1540

• Lynnette K. Nieman

• Beverly M. K. Biller

• James W. Findling

• John Newell-Price

• Martin O. Savage

• Paul M. Stewart

• Victor M. Montori

Page 14: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

The Diagnosis of Cushing’s Syndrome: An EndocrineSociety Clinical Practice Guideline

J Clin Endocrinol Metab. May 2008, 93(5):1526–1540

• 1st line recommended tests– UFC– Low dose or overnight dexamethasone test– Night-time salivary cortisols

• Testing for Cushing’s syndrome in patients with multiple and progressive features compatible with the syndrome

• 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.

Page 15: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

The Diagnosis of Cushing’s Syndrome: An EndocrineSociety Clinical Practice Guideline

J Clin Endocrinol Metab. May 2008, 93(5):1526–1540

• Patients with 2 or more normal results should not undergo further evaluation.

• Recommend additional testing in patients with discordant results, normal responses suspected of cyclic hypercortisolism, or initially normal responses who accumulate additional features over time.

Page 16: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

The Diagnosis of Cushing’s Syndrome: An EndocrineSociety Clinical Practice Guideline

J Clin Endocrinol Metab. May 2008, 93(5):1526–1540

• We recommend against any further testing for Cushing's syndrome in individuals with concordantly negative results on two different tests (except in patients suspected of having the very rare case of cyclical disease)

• Rarely patients have been described with episodic secretion of cortisol excess in a cyclical pattern with peaks occurring at intervals of several days to many months. Because the DST results may be normal in patients who are cycling out of hypercortisolism, these tests are not recommended for patients suspected of having cyclic disease. Instead, measurement of UFC or salivary cortisol may best demonstrate cyclicity. In patients for whom clinical suspicion is high but initial tests are normal, follow-up is recommended with repeat testing, if possible to coincide with clinical symptoms.

Page 17: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

FIG. 1. Algorithm for testing patients suspected of having Cushing's syndrome (CS)

Page 18: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

Hypothesis

• Patients with full-blown Cushing’s syndrome started out with mild Cushing’s syndrome.– It would be advantageous to diagnose these patients when they have

mild disease before they are affected by hypercortisolemia.• There are many case reports of patients with periodic Cushing’s

syndrome.• Some of these patients have hypercortisolism at regular intervals as

documented by symptoms and laboratory measurements.• Many patients report “highs” and” lows”even if not regular.• There has been no series examining the frequency of mild or

periodic/episodic Cushing’s syndrome.• Thus, we hypothesized that a high percentage of consecutive patients

presenting with signs and symptoms of hypercortisolism have episodic and/or mild Cushing’s syndrome.

Page 19: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

Episodic, Cyclical, Periodic

• Periodic and cyclical refer to changes in cortisol levels that occur on a regular predictable basis.

• Episodic refers to high cortisol levels that are random.• Most of my patients are episodic.

Page 20: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

WEB AGE

• MOST FOUND ME FROM THE INTERNET• Cushing’s-help.com (I hosted several “chats”

including Jan 2009) • Most went to numerous other Endocrinologist,

including Cushing’s specialists• Told “Your arms aren’t thin enough for

Cushing’s” or were dismissed with 1 normal test• In most cases, patient suspected Cushing’s, in

spite of doctor telling them its unlikely

Page 21: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

Confirmed Cushing’s Patients

– 66 patients– 61 females, 5 males– 62 Caucasians, 2 Hispanic, 1 Black, 1 Pacific Islander– Median age 38.5 years– BMI was 35.9 ±8.5 kg/m2 (mean ± SD)– Average weight gain was 67.7 ±40.2 pounds– Patients were considered for Cushing’s syndrome if they had a

rapid, unexplained weight gain and associated symptoms of hypercortisolism including adult-onset hirsutism and acne, menstrual irregularities and proximal muscle weakness.

– All subjects reported that their symptoms were more severe at certain times suggesting episodic hypercortisolism

Page 22: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

Cushing’s excluded

– 54 subjects– 52 females, two males– All Caucasians– Median age 36 years– BMI was 32.9 ±8.0 kg/m2

– Average weight gain was 48.3 ±35 pounds– Cushing’s syndrome was excluded by lack of progression of

symptoms and lack of biochemical evidence.– Many were diagnosed with other conditions, including growth

hormone deficiency

Page 23: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

Symptoms/ Signs

SYMPTOMS/ SIGNS CUSHINGS NON-CUSHINGS Mild Depression 36/66 28/54 Fatigue 59/66 42/54 Menstrual Irregularities 33/47 24/40 Insomnia 57/66 37/54 Hirsuitism 34/59 15/52 Striae 36/66 23/54 Acne 47/66 22/54 Bruising 26/66 21/54 Cognitive problems 41/66 27/54

Page 24: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

24-Hour Urinary Free Cortisol (UFC)

• Integration of plasma cortisol throughout the day• “Good” assays (using HPLC or mass spectroscopy) have a

normal range of 10-34 g, with higher levels for men.• Normal range of many older assays is 20-100 g /day

indicating some non-specificity or interference of the assay• PseudoCushings patients may have normal values in newer

assays, but elevated levels in older assays. • Many Cushing’s patients have normal values in the new assay• My data demonstrates that most Cushing’s patients are

periodic, therefore patients need to collect multiple collections hopefully when they have high cortisol.

• May be normal if subject is high at night and low during the day.

Page 25: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

UFC: Cushing'sUFC> 34 micrograms/day=(50/66)UFC< 34 micrograms/day=(57/66)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200-470

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Cushing's Patients

mic

rog

ram

s/d

ay

WomenMen

Page 26: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

UFC: non-Cushing'sOne UFC > 34 micrograms/day= (13/51)One UFC < 34 micrograms/day= (50/51)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90-145

0 10 20 30 40 50

non-Cushing's Patients

mic

rog

ram

s/d

ay

WomenMen

Page 27: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

10 hr urine Cortisol/Cr

• Corcuff, et al. Clinical Endocrinology 48:1998, 503-508.

• Night-time (from 10 PM to 8 AM) UFC excretion (correct for g of creatinine)

• 16 nmol/umol was the cutoff

• Helpful in subjects with high night time cortisol excretion and low daytime cortisol excretion

• Correcting for US units 16 ug/g is a reasonable cut-off

• I need to tabulating our data, but this is a reasonable approach.

Page 28: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

Urinary 17-OH Corticosteroids (17-OHS)

• One of the earliest tests• Went out of favor about 10 years ago and has been (incorrectly)

replaced by UFC.• UFC is probably better for full-blown Cushing’s compared to obese

and normal subjects.• 17-OHS may be better for picking up mild cases.• Can use the same collection for both, so its worthwhile to measure 17-

OHS in addition to UFC.• Can also express results per gram of creatinine to correct for obesity

Page 29: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

17 OHS: Cushing'sOne 17 OHS > 6mg/day=(52/63)One 17 OHS < 6mg/day=(53/63)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30-95

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Cushing's Patients

mg

/day

WomenMen

Page 30: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

17 OHS: non-Cushing'sOne 17 OHS > 6mg/day= (15/50)One 17 OHS < 6mg/day= (48/50)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

0 10 20 30 40 50

non-Cushing's Patients

mg

/day

WomenMen

16-32

Page 31: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

17 OHS/g Cr: Cushing'sOne 17 OHS/g Cr > 3.6 micrograms/g=(45/61)One 17 OHS/g Cr < 3.6 micrograms/g=(45/61)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14-60

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Cushing's Patients

mic

rog

ram

s/d

ay

WomenMen

Page 32: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

17 OHS/g Cr: non-Cushing'sOne 17 OHS/g Cr > 3.6 micrograms/g= (15/50)One 17 OHS/g Cr < 3.6 micrograms/g= (46/50)

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

0 10 20 30 40 50

non-Cushing's Patients

mic

rog

ram

s/d

ay

WomenMen

Page 33: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

Diurnal Plasma Cortisol Test• Normal individuals and patients with pseudo-Cushing states

have a pronounced diurnal rhythm of cortisol with the highest values in the morning and lower values at night.

• Patients with Cushing syndrome lack their diurnal variation of cortisol.

• Papanicolaou et al. (JCEM, 1998, 83:1163-1167) compared morning and nighttime plasma cortisol in 97 patients with proven Cushing syndrome and 31 patients with pseudo-Cushing states.

• A midnight plasma cortisol greater than 7.5 g/dL makes Cushing’s syndrome likely.

• Patients taking oral estrogens (or birth control pills) will have an increase in their CBG and a falsely high serum cortisol level.

• Pretty good test, but hard to arrange.

Page 34: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

Midnight plasma cortisol

Papanicolaou et al. (JCEM, 1998, 83:1163-1167)

Page 35: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

Night Cortisol: Cushing'sNight cortisol > 7.5 micrograms/dL= (26/57)Night cortisol < 7.5 micrograms/dL= (31/57)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Cushing's Patients

mic

rog

ram

s/d

L

WomenMen

Page 36: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

Night Cortisol: non-Cushing'snight cortisol > 7.5 micrograms/dL=(11/44)night cortisol < 7.5 micrograms/dL=(33/44)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

0 10 20 30 40 50

non-Cushing's Patients

mic

rog

ram

s/d

L

WomenMen

Page 37: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

Diurnal Salivary Cortisol Test• Salivary cortisol levels reflect plasma

cortisol levels.

• Midnight plasma cortisol measurement requires blood-drawing and may be difficult to obtain in an outpatient setting.

• Measured by a company in Wisconsin called ACL. Also Esoterix

• Uses a "Salivette" in which the patient chews on a cotton tube for 2-3 minutes. The samples are stable for a week at room temperature and salivary cortisol is independent of the rate of saliva production.

Page 38: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

Diurnal Salivary Cortisol Test (2)

• 36/39 patients with Cushing syndrome had a salivary cortisol > 3.6 nmol/L (0.13 g/dl).

• 38/39 normal volunteers had a value ≤ 3.6 nmol/l (mean 1.2 nmol/L) and 37/39 patients with rule/out Cushing syndrome had a value ≤ 3.6 nmol/l (mean 1.6 nmol/L).

Page 39: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

Salivary Cortisols: Cushing'ssalivary cortisol > 4.3 nmol/L=(43/64)salivary cortisol < 4.3 nmol/L=(58/64)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20-80

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Cushing's Patients

nm

ol/L

WomenMen

Page 40: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

Salivary Cortisols: non-Cushing'sOne salivary cortisol> 4.3 nmol/L=(9/53)One salivary cortisol< 4.3 nmol/L=(53/53)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

0 10 20 30 40 50

non-Cushing's Patients

nm

ol/L

WomenMen

16-22

Page 41: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

Both UFC and Salivary Cortisol are unlikely to pick-up mild Cushing’s

• Serum cortisol less than 20 g/dl (lower in evening when CBG is lower) is mainly (but not exclusively) bound to CBG and therefore little free cortisol is present in the blood.

• This results in little increase in salivary cortisol or UFC.

• At serum cortisol concentrations exceeding this cut-off, then salivary cortisol and UFC will rise dramatically.

Page 42: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

Salivary cortisol: Conclusions

• Convenient for periodic patients as the patient can collect many samples easily

• Try to have the patient collect when high symptoms, but I’m finding that multiple collections (up to 8) is probably the best approach

• No better or worse than UFC for picking up mild cases.

Page 43: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

Overnight dexamethasone test

• Give 1 mg of dexamethasone at midnight- collect 8 am plasma cortisol• Cushing’s patients resistant to glucocorticoid feedback.• Old cut-off 5 mg/dL, new cut-off 1.8, 2 or 3 mg/dL. Value greater than

that consistent with Cushing’s syndrome.• Cortisol assay isn’t that good at low values• May get falsely high values if on oral estrogens.• Only half of classic Cushing’s patients have the genetic defects leading

to resistance to dexamethasone-probably lower in mild/episodic patients (Bilodeau et al. 2006 20: 2871-2886 Genes & Dev.)

• Friedman, T.C. (2006) An Update on the Overnight Dexamethasone Suppression Test for the Diagnosis of Cushing’s Syndrome: Limitations in Patients with Mild and/or Episodic Hypercortisolism. Experimental and Clinical Endocrinology and Diabetes 216: 356-360.

Page 44: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

Overnight dexamethasone test

Patient #

0800 h cortisol (

g/dL

)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Page 45: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

Overnight dexamethasone test

• Conclusion: test useless for excluding Cushing’s syndrome.• If someone has a high value after dexamethasone, may help

with the diagnosis of Cushing’s syndrome, but those patients usually are severe and can be diagnosed anyway

• If patient suppresses to overnight dexamethasone, adrenal adenoma or ectopic is unlikely.

• I am now doing a prospective study using 0.25 mg of overnight dexamethasone, 1 mg of dexamethasone and the 2 mg/2 day dexamethasone test.

• All my patients suppress on the 2 mg/2 day test• 0.25 mg may be helpful, but so far a lot of overlap between

Cushing’s and Cushing’s excluded.

Page 46: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

Dexamethasone-CRH test

• Patients with pseudo-Cushing’s states show a diminished response to exogenous CRH and a greater inhibition of cortisol production by glucocorticoids than patients with Cushing’s syndrome.

• Yanovski et al. (JAMA 1993, 269:2232-2238) studied 39 patients with surgery confirmed Cushing’s syndrome and 19 patients with pseudo-Cushing states. Both groups of patients had UFC between 90-360 ug/day (nl 20-100 ug/day).

• Dexamethasone (0.5 mg) is given every 6 hours for 8 doses, starting at noon. The last dose is given at 6 A.M, 2 hours before the CRH test. Ovine CRH (1 mg/kg) is then given at 8 A.M. Plasma samples were analyzed for cortisol and ACTH at 4 basal time points (-15, -10, -5 and 0) and at 5, 15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes after oCRH.

Page 47: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

Dexamethasone-CRH test

• Using a cutoff of 1.4 mg/dL, a plasma cortisol drawn 15 minutes after oCRH administration (following dexamethasone suppression) was able to completely separate patients with pseudo-Cushing states from those with Cushing syndrome. This was much better than just performing a oCRH test or dexamethasone test alone.

• Subsequently, many articles have shown the test is not full-proof• Timing is crucial.• Has not been tested in mild or periodic patients.• The dex-CRH test is expensive and time consuming. I found that

most of my patients with mild Cushing’s syndrome had low cortisol values following the test.

Page 48: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

Pituitary MRI• In literature approximately 50% of patients with Cushing disease have

a visible tumor on MRI (older, non-dynamic, lower power MRIs).

• 10% of normal volunteers have MRIs consistent with a pituitary adenoma (Hall et al. Ann. Intern. Med., 1994, 120:817-820).

• Now 3 Tesla doing dynamic MRIs can pick up small tumors are done.• Patients without Cushing’s syndrome or with adrenal/ectopic

Cushing’s can have a pituitary incidentaloma.• Friedman, T.C., Zuckerbraun, E., Lee, M.L., Kabil, M.S., Shahinian,

H.K. (2007) Dynamic Pituitary MRI Has High Sensitivity and Specificity for the Diagnosis of Mild Cushing’s Syndrome and Should be Part of the Initial Workup. Hormone and Metabolic Research 39:451-456.

Page 49: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

Pituitary MRI23 of 24 patients had had a MRI consistent with a pituitary lesion

Pt #

Tu

mor size (m

m)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Page 50: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

Pituitary MRI-Cushing’s Syndrome-excluded

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Tu

mor size (m

m)

Pt #

Page 51: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

Pituitary MRI• 23 of 24 patients had had a MRI consistent with a pituitary lesion (21 with

a microadenoma, two with pituitary asymmetry). • Only 3 of 20 patients (2 patient did not have MRIs) in the Cushing’s

excluded group had a pituitary lesion on dynamic MRI. • Dynamic pituitary MRI had the highest sensitivity and negative predictive

value of any testing modalities and its specificity and positive predictive value were similar to that of other tests.

• A negative MRI goes a long way in excluding Cushing’s syndrome, except in the patient with adrenal or ectopic Cushing’s syndrome, who usually has more severe hypercortisolism and is usually easy to diagnose.

• Positive MRI is helpful, but still needs biochemical evidence for hypercortisolism.

Page 52: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

Dynamic Pituitary MRI

Coronal T1-weightedStatic MRI (Contrasted)

Coronal T1-weightedDynamic MRI (Contrasted)

Page 53: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

Pituitary MRI• 3T MRI with dynamic is the best-picks up small tumors and gives more

specificity• Need to send MRI to neurosurgeons as radiologists often miss small

tumors.• Still no way to distinguish between Cushing’s tumors and incidentalomas

on MRI.• Size is not helpful. Cushing's tumors are often very small:1-3 mm.• Do not have to perform during a high• Quality of MRI’s still vary, make sure yours is a good one• I think the test is very helpful as it adds useful information to the clinician.

Goes against dictum of diagnose Cushing’s syndrome before performing tests previously reserved for determining type of Cushing’s.

Page 54: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

Adrenal Imaging• Patients with severe pituitary Cushing’s can have adrenal

enlargement.

• I hypothesized that adrenal MRIs or CTs would show adrenal enlargement that would help with the diagnosis.

• Did not find adrenal imaging helpful for the diagnosis of hypercortisolism

• Helpful for determining the type of Cushing’s syndrome (discussed later)

Page 55: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

Unhelpful tests

• Morning cortisol (Friedman, T.C. and Yanovski, J.A. (1995) Morning Plasma Free Cortisol: Inability to Distinguish Patients with Mild Cushing Syndrome from Patients with Pseudo-Cushing States. J. Endocrinol. Invest. 18:696-701)

• Morning ACTH• Late afternoon cortisol• Insulin tolerance test• CRH test

Page 56: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

Periodic Cushing’s

• Data shows that all patients are periodic to some degree

• May account for many patients incorrectly diagnosed as normal.

• Marked by mostly normal (or low) cortisol levels with some high values accounting for the signs and symptoms of Cushing’s syndrome

• Can be all types of Cushing’s syndrome, but in my hands, its pituitary.

• Very difficult to diagnose and exclude

Page 57: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

Periodic Cushing’s (2)• My approach is to measure 3-8 UFCs and 17-OHS and 3-8

salivary cortisols in patients with a high degree of suspicion and symptoms of periodicity.

• Multiple serum midnight cortisols and 10 hr urine cortisols can also be done

• The patient should keep a diary of symptoms to correlate with cortisol values.

• Patients should try to collect urines/saliva when high symptoms.

• If all urines /saliva are normal, it makes active Cushing’s syndrome unlikely at that time.

• Patients should be followed and re-examined at a future time.

Page 58: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

Periodic Cushing’s (2)• I agree with the Endocrine Society recommendations and

like to see 2 different tests high.• The higher the test, the more likely Cushing’s is• Patients with mild/episodic Cushing’s seem to have as

many symptoms and as poor a quality of life as full-blown-may be due to daytime lows.

Page 59: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

Conditions with Normal Cortisol Levels which May Mimic Cushing’s Syndrome-What else gives you a rapid weight gain,

striae, trouble sleeping, fatigue, acne, irregular periods??

• Obesity-not associated with other stigmata• Syndrome X (Insulin Resistance)• Polycystic Ovary Syndromes• Growth Hormone Deficiency (different symptoms

and testable)

Page 60: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

Cushing’s vs Metabolic Syndrome/Polycystic Ovary Syndromes

• Rapid new onset weight gain in Cushing’s• Sleep disturbances, depression, striae, fatigue, bruising• Measure testosterone level (low in Cushing’s)-Pall et

al. (2008) Testosterone and Bioavailable Testosterone Help to Distinguish Between Mild Cushing’s Syndrome and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Hormone and Metabolic Research. 40:813-8.

• Measure fasting insulin level-low value argues against metabolic syndrome

Page 61: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

Cushing’s vs Syndrome X/Polycystic Ovary Syndromes

• Rapid new onset weight gain in Cushing’s

• Sleep disturbances, depression, striae, fatigue, bruising

• Measure testosterone level (low in Cushing’s)

• Measure fasting insulin level-low value argues against metabolic syndrome

Total Testosterone

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

nm

ol/L

95% Sensitivity70% Specificity

Cushing's Syndrome PCOS

Upper limit of normal range

1.39 nmol/L cut-point

Page 62: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

How to tell if you are in a high cortisol phase

• Trouble sleeping• Worsening acne• Worsening ‘brain fog”• If diabetes-higher glucose (especially after

carbohydrate meals)• If hypertension-higher blood pressure• Signs of low cortisol-joint pains, can’t get

out of bed, nausea and vomiting-do not test!

Page 63: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

How to tell if you are in a high cortisol phase

• In the future, hopefully we will have a cortisolometer.

• Like a glucometer-gives instant cortisol levels with a finger prick.

Page 64: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

Mild Cushing’s-Conclusions

• Important to make the diagnosis of Cushing’s Syndrome early-before ravages of disease have affected the patient.

• Careful history and physical (patient may not have all the classic findings)

• Many tests may be normal• Unclear which is the “earliest” test to be abnormal.• Wait only until ample evidence for Cushing’s is

obtained.

Page 65: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

CONCLUSIONS

• Almost all patients are episodic• Most patients are mild• Less pseudoCushing’s with new UFC assay• No single tests diagnoses everyone• Overnight dex testing is not helpful• 17-OHS may pick up some patients and should be

done in conjunction with UFC• Pituitary MRI helpful• Difficult to diagnose

Page 66: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Careful history and physical• At least 3 UFC and 17-OHS• At least 3 11 pm salivary cortisols• Make diagnosis if two distinct values are high• Have patient keep a diary and try to collect when

“high”• Be careful interpreting serum cortisols on birth

control pills

Page 67: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

On to Determining the Type of Cushing’s

Page 68: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

Thanks to:Dianne AndrewsMagic foundationAll my patientsSurgeons:Ian McCutcheon, M.D., Hrayr Shahinian,

M.D., Hae Dong Jho, M.D., Ph.D. , Sandeep Kunwar, M.D., Ed Phillips, M.D., Manfred Chiang, M.D.

Assistants: Lynne Drabkowski and Erik Zuckerbraun, M.D.

Page 69: Diagnosing Cushing’s Syndrome: Not as Easy as it Seems Theodore C. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Medicine-Charles Drew University Professor of Medicine-UCLA

For more help

• Chat with Dr. Friedman on Cushing’s:http://www.blogtalkradio.com/CushingsHelp/va/2009/01/30/interview-with-Dr-Ted-Friedman-DR-F• National geographic show on Cushing’shttp://www.cushings-help.com/media.htmDr. Friedman’s website: http://goodhormonehealth.com/• Dr. Friedman’s email or to schedule an appointment:

[email protected]