Block 34 Week 5 Flashcards
What is cushings caused by?
- cause by prolonged exposure to excess of glucocorticoids
causes of cushings?
- exogenous cause - use of glucocorticoids - the most common cause
- endogenous - excess production of glucocorticoids by the body - very rare
cushings disease?
- Cushing’s disease, which refers to cases caused by a pituitary adenoma, is responsible for the majority of endogenous cases.
ACTH dependent cushings?
- ACTH dependent: cortisol excess is driven by ACTH, either from the pituitary or ectopic sources.
ACTH independent cushings?
- ACTH independent: cortisol excess is independent of ACTH. Includes exogenous causes (consumption of cortisol) and adrenal lesions (adenomas, carcinomas).
HPA axis?
- CRH from paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus
- ATCH from corticotrophs of AP
- cortisol release from adrenal cortex
- negative fedback on CRH and ACTH
ACTH excess is a feature of both?
ACTH excess is a feature of both Addison’s disease (primary adrenocortical insufficiency) and ACTH dependent Cushing’s syndrome - hyperpigmentation
what causes ACTH dep cushings?
- due to the excess production of ACTH.
- When exogenous causes are excluded, ACTH dependent causes are responsible for 80% of all Cushing’s syndrome.
- Cushings disease involves excess ACTH.
ACTH dependent cushings - ectopic production?
- Ectopic ACTH production: This may be seen as a paraneoplastic syndrome in lung cancers where malignant cells produce ACTH and are not subject to normal negative feedback mechanisms.
ACTH dependent cushings - ectopic CRH production?
- Ectopic CRH production: Rarely CRH may be produced by malignant tissue resulting in increased ACTH and cortisol production.
ACTH independent cushings?
- presence of normal ACTH production
- endogenous administration
- primary adrenal lesions
ACTH independent cushings - endogenous admin?
- Endogenous administration: Prolonged exposure to exogenous glucocorticoids is the most common cause of Cushing’s syndrome. Results in suppression of CRH and ACTH.
ACTH independent cushings - primary adrenal lesions?
- Primary adrenal lesions: tumours (adenomas, carcinomas and hyperplasia) may result in cortisol excess and suppression of CRH and ACTH.
symptoms of cushings syndrome
- Tiredness
- Depression
- Weight gain
- Easy bruising
- Amenorrhoea
- Reduced libido
- Striae
signs of cushings syndrome
- Acne
- Moon facies
- Plethora
- Buffalo hump
- Hypertension
- Proximal muscle weakness
- Hyperpigmentation(in ACTH dependent causes)*
definitive test in cushings?
dexamethasone suppression test
other tests used in cushings?
- 24 hr urinary cotisol
- midnight cortisol
24 hr urinary cortisol?
- 24 hr urinary cortisol - often initial tests in suspected cushings syndrome
- Three or more collections are usually needed.
- Levels 3-4x normal are highly suggestive of Cushing’s syndrome.
- creatinine levels need to be measured
midnight cortisol?
- demonstrates loss of normal circadian pattern
- Cortisol levels can be salivary or blood-based
low dose dexamethasone suppression tets?
- dexamethasone given at 11pm and serum cortisol is then measured at 8am
- In a normal individual, the administration of dexamethasone should suppress the morning rise in serum cortisol.
- However, in patients with Cushing’s syndrome, there is a lack of suppression,
dexamethasone CRH test?
- less commonly used
- dexamethasone is given for a period following by administration of CRH
- Serum cortisol (and ACTH) levels can then be measured.
- It may help distinguish between Cushing’s and hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis dysregulation
establishing cause of cushings - first test?
- plasma ACTH is the first test done to find a cause
- Suppressed / undetectable ACTH: Indicative of an ACTH independent cause of Cushing’s syndrome.
- Raised / inappropriately normal ACTH: Suggestive of an ACTH dependent cause.
Imaging
first line for suspected ACTH independent cushings?
- majority is caused by adrenal pathology
- in patients with suspected ACTH independent Cushing’s syndrome a CT of the adrenal glands is normally the first line investigation.
- Further tests may include MRI adrenal glands and PET/CT.
first line in ACTH dependent cushings?
- high dose dexamethasone suppression test
- Pituitary adenomas(Cushing’s disease): High levels of dexamethasone are able to suppress ACTH production.
- Ectopic production: Despite high dose dexamethasone, ectopic tissues will not be suppressed and continue to produce ACTH.
ACTH dependent cushings - distinguishing causes?
cushings disease: high levels of dexamethasone will suppres ACTH production
ectopic production: no ACTH suppression
other tests for a pituitary adenoma?
- other tests: pituitary adenoma or malignancy - CTs and MRIs
- Petrosal sinus sampling is an invasive test that may be used to help identify a microscopic pituitary adenoma
exogenous cushings management
- gradual withdrawal from glucocorticoids
- stopping could result in addisonian crisis
gold standard for managing cushings disease?
- Transsphenoidal surgeryis the gold-standard for treatment of Cushing’s disease.
- microadenomectomy
- subtotal resections of the AP
medical management of cushings disease?
Metyrapone can be used, an inhibitor of 11β-hydroxylase, that leads to a reduction in cortisol synthesis.
Pituitary irradiation?
- This may be used in children and young people w CD or those in whom surgical techniques have failed.
- Effects are not immediate and takes around 6-12 months to have maximal effect.
adrenalectomy?
- In those in who all other therapies for CS have failed bilateral adrenalectomy may be used.
- This mandates lifelong glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid replacement.
management of adrenal lesions ?
- surgical resection
- unilateral adrenal adnoma - curative tx
- Following surgery patients will need a tapering course of exogenous steroids for a period of time as their endogenous CRH and ACTH will be suppressed.
Tx
Bilateral adrenal hyperplasia?
In patients with overt Cushing’s bilateral adrenalectomy may be offered. Following this patients require replacement of glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids
causes of cushings syndrome - CAPE?
- Cushings disease
- Adrenal adenoma
- paraneoplastic syndrome
- Exogenous steroids
Skin pigmentation?
- In a patient with Cushing’s syndrome, the pigmentation allows you to determine the cause as excess ACTH, either from Cushing’s disease or ectopic ACTH.
- This sign is absent in an adrenal adenoma or exogenous steroids.
Lack of cortisol suppression in resp to dexamethasone suggests ?
cushings syndrome
dexamethasone suppression results
IMAGE
types of dexamethasone suppression test?
- Low-dose overnight test(used as a screening test to exclude Cushing’s syndrome)
- Low-dose 48-hour test(used in suspected Cushing’s syndrome)
- High-dose 48-hour test(used to determine the cause in patients with confirmed Cushing’s syndrome)
bloods in CS?
- Full blood countmay show ahigh white blood cell count
- U&Esmay showlowpotassiumifanadrenal adenomais also secretingaldosterone
Findings causes
Other tests for cushinhs?
- MRI brain for a pituitary adenoma
- CT chest for small cell lung cancer
- CT abdomen for adrenal tumours
what suggests syndrome of inappropriate ADH secretion?
The presence of euvolaemic hyponatraemia, with high urine osmolality (> 100 mOsm/kg) and high urine sodium (> 40 mmol/L),
cushings can cause?
DM
Sheehan syndrome?
Sheehan syndrome describes hypopituitarism caused by ischemic necrosis due to blood loss and hypovolaemic shock.
features of Sheehans syndrome?
- agalactorrhoea
- amenorrhoea
- symptoms of hypothyroidism
- symptoms of hypoadrenalism
Asherman’s syndrome?
Asherman’s syndrome, or intrauterine adhesions, may occur following dilation and curettage. This may prevent the endometrium responding to oestrogen as it normally would.
ABG in CS?
hypokalaemic metabolic alkalosis
Ectopic ACTH from lung cancer -
ACTH and cortisol remain high
high dose dexa test results?
A high dose of dexamethasone exerts negative feedback on pituitary neoplastic ACTH-producing cells (Cushing’s disease), but not on ectopic ACTH-producing cells or adrenal adenoma (Cushing’s syndrome).
Squamous cell carcinomas?
- smokers
- central location
- raised calcium
small cell lung cancer?
- smokers
- ‘sentral’ location
- syndromes - SIADH, ACTH
subacute thyroditis?
suggested by the tender goitre, hyperthyroidism and raised ESR. The globally reduced uptake on technetium thyroid scan is also typical
what can precipitate thyroid eye disease?
radioiodine therapy can precipitate thyroid eye disease but a majority of patients eventually require thyroxine replacement
CD results?
In Cushing’s disease, cortisol is not suppressed by low-dose dexamethasone but is suppressed by high-dose dexamethasone - problem at pituitary
hashimotos is associated w development of?
MALT lymphoma
ABPi >1
An ABPI value of >1 can indicate vessel calcificaiton common in diabetes
Peripheral arterial disease will cause an ABPI value to be decreased, and a reduced ABPI is indicative of peripheral arterial disease
< 0.5 ABPI
<0.5 = severe arterial disease - PAD
ABPI 0.5-0.8 =
suggests presence of arterial disease or mixed arterial/venous disease - PAD or mixed PAD and PVD
ABPI > 1.3 =
> 1.3 = suggests presence of arterial calcification, such as in some people with diabetes, RA, systemic vasculitis, atherosclerotic disease and advanced chronic renal failure.
electrolytes abn in addisons?
- hyponatreamia
- hyperkalaemia
- weight loss
what points to osteomalacia?
- low calcium and phosphate
- raised ALP
Sick euthyroid syndrome?
- low T3/ T4 levels
- inappropriately normal TSH
The first-line diagnostic test for Cushing’s syndrome is a
low dose dexamethasone suppression test
how does myxoedema coma present?
Myxoedema coma typically presents with confusion and hypothermia.
how does an addisonian crisis present?
Addisonian crises typically feature malaise, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, and muscle cramps and paraesthesia,
thyrotoxic storm presentation ?
A thyrotoxic storm is a complication of hyperthyroidism that features hyperthermia, tachycardia, vomiting, and agitation.
commonest cause of AD in the uK?
The commonest cause of Addison’s disease in the U.K is autoimmunity
AD electrolyte abn?
Addison’s disease causes a metabolic acidosis with a normal anion gap
TRUELove and witts criteria?
T - Temp > 37.8
R - Rate > 90
U - (Uh)naemia Hb < 105
E - ESR >3
first line for acute mesenteric ischaemia?
lactate levels
AF+ abdo pain ->
mesenteric ischaemia
features of IMA?
- Acute
- Painful
- AF
+- bloody stool
IC?
- transient
- not so painful
- bloody diarhhea
- no history of AF (especially in SBA)
Ix and Mx of IC?
- do x ray = thumbprinting (especially splenic area)
- less pain, transient = conservative
What does perinicous anaemia predispose to?
gastric carcinoma
if C diff doesn’t respond to first line vancomycin then
IfC. difficiledoes not respond to first-line vancomycin , oral fidaxomicin should be used next, except in life-threatening infections
barretts oesophagus inc risk of?
- oesophageal adenocarcinoma
- achalasia
- risk of sq cell carcinoma of oesophagus
- when found endoscopic intervention needs to be done
mesenteric ischaemia triad?
triad of CVD, high lactate and soft but tender abdomen
Subclinical hyperthyroidism is associated with?
atrial fibrillation, osteoporosis and possibly dementia
Hormones produced by pituitary?
- Growth Hormone (GH)
- Adrenocorticotropin (ACTH)
- Thyrotropin (TSH)
- Prolactin
- FSH & LH
- ADH
- Oxytocin
hormones of pituitary
Cell types of pituitary?
- somatotropes - 30-40%
- corticotropes - 20%
- thyrotropes
- gonadotropes
- lactotropes
most common cell type in the pituitary?
somatotropes
hypopituitarism - symptoms
- Tiredness
- Weight loss
- Decreased libido
- Increased sensitivity to cold
- Loss of appetite
- Infertility
- Irregular periods
- Loss of body or facial hair
- Short stature
acromegaly presentation?
- bitemporal hemianopia
- sleep apnoea
- poor dentition
- poorly controlled T2DM, insulin resistance
- HTN, cardiomyopathy, heart failure
screening test for acromegaly?
- screening tests - IGF-1. random GH
confirmatory test of acromegaly?
GT test
other tests for acromegaly?
- imaging MRI pituitary
Random GH level - acromegaly?
- little value in diagosis
- GH secretion is pulsatile
- stimulated by a variety of factors like fasting exercise stress and sleep
IGF-1 measurement?
- Long half-life
- To assess GH secretion
- Screen for acromegaly
- Monitor response to treatment
First line test for acromegaly. OGTT is second line
What impacts IGF-1 levels?
- IGF-1 concentrations vary with age
- Starvation, obesity and diabetes mellitus IGF-1
- pregnancy IGF-1
glucose tolerance test in acromegaly?
- Baseline GH level
- Ingestion of 75g oral glucose
- GH measured at 30, 60, 90 and 120 mins
- Failure to suppress GH levels to < 1ug/L
- Paradoxical rise
Tx options for acromegaly
- surgery
- radiotherapy
- medical
CS image showing symptoms
most common cause of CS
exogenous steroids
epidemiology of CS?
- female to male incidence is 1.5
- peak age of incidence: 25-40
Effects of glucocorticoids?
- Increase glucose production
- Inhibit protein synthesis
- Increase protein breakdown
- Stimulate lipolysis
- Immunologic and inflammatory responses
important signs in cushings
- Spontaneous ecchymoses
- Purple striae
- Proximal myopathy
- Osteoporosis
- Hypokalemia
HPT axis?
- hypo: TRH
- AP: TSH
- thyroid: T4 and T3
HPA axis?
- hypo: CRH
- AP: ACTH
- adrenals: cortisol releasse
Cross talk between HPA and HPT?
- The pituitary-thyroid and pituitary-adrenal axes exhibit cross-talk and mutual regulation, with hormones from one axis influencing the function and secretion of hormones in the other axis.
- For example, cortisol can modulate thyroid hormone metabolism and activity, while thyroid hormones can affect adrenal steroidogenesis and cortisol metabolism.