adrenals

Question 1

what is the main feature of Cushing’s disease

Answer 1

excess cortisol/other glucocorticoid

Question 2

Cushing’s disease: effect on blood glucose

Answer 2

blood glucose rises, giving rise to type II diabetes

Question 3

Cushing’s diease: clinical features

Answer 3

high blood glucose, type II diabetes, thin skin and easy bruising; striae (stretch marks); proximal myopathy (muscle weakness); mental changes (depression); hypertension; osteoporosis; fat redistribution; hair growth (hirsutism) and acne; immunosuppression (reactivation of tuberculosis if previously suppressed by immune system)

Question 4

what type of weight gain is associated with Cushing’s disease

Answer 4

increase fat, lose protein leading to centripetal obesity

Question 5

why is the skin thin and bruises more easily, and that stretch marks present

Answer 5

less protein; when becomes obese new skin isn’t created it stretches

Question 6

examples of fat redistribution

Answer 6

moon face, buffalo hump (interscapular fat patch)

Question 7

4 causes of Cushing’s syndrome

Answer 7

taking excess steroids by mouth (e.g. asthma), pituitary dependent Cushing’s disease (pituitary adenoma), ectopic ACTH (lung cancer), adrenal adenoma or carcinoma (making cortsisol)

Question 8

Cushing’s syndrome vs Cushing’s disease

Answer 8

syndrome is when all symptoms present but unsure of cause; disease is pituitary dependent Cushing’s disease (pituitary adenoma)

Question 9

side effects of steroids

Answer 9

same as Cushing’s syndrome as excess glucocorticoid