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Endocrine
Published in: Endocrine 3/2020

Open Access 01-12-2020 | Cushing's Syndrome | Original Article

Etiology, baseline clinical profile and comorbidities of patients with Cushing’s syndrome at a single endocrinological center

Authors: Barbara Stachowska, Justyna Kuliczkowska-Płaksej, Marcin Kałużny, Jędrzej Grzegrzółka, Maja Jończyk, Marek Bolanowski

Published in: Endocrine | Issue 3/2020

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to compare phenotype of patients with pituitary, adrenal and ectopic CS and identify the differences regarding biochemical parameters, clinical presentations, and comorbidities in CS patients who were diagnosed at the single endocrinological center in Wroclaw.

Methods

The study population involved 64 patients with CS (53 women and 11 men) diagnosed in Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Isotope Therapy in 2000–2018. Patients were divided into three etiologic groups: pituitary dependent-CS (P-CS) (64%), adrenal dependent CS (A-CS) (25%), and CS from an ectopic source (E-CS) (11%).

Results

Percentage of men in the A-CS group was significantly higher than in the other etiologic groups. ACTH, UFC, and cortisol in DST were significantly higher in E-CS group compare to P-CS and A-CS (p < 0.05). Mean potassium level in E-CS group was significantly lower than in P-CS and A-CS (p < 0.05). Median of time elapsed to diagnosis was significantly lower in the E-CS group compared with either the P-CS and the A-CS group (p < 0.01). The most frequently symptoms in CS patients were skin alterations (82.8%), weight gain (81.2%), and hypertension (81.2%).

Conclusions

The epidemiology of CS is changing toward a growing proportion of A-CS. All patients with E-CS presented a profound hypokalemia. Salient hypokalemia could be a biochemical marker more suggestive for E-CS rather than P-CS. The incidence of diabetes is more frequent in E-CS group than in P-CS and A-CS groups.
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Metadata
Title
Etiology, baseline clinical profile and comorbidities of patients with Cushing’s syndrome at a single endocrinological center
Authors
Barbara Stachowska
Justyna Kuliczkowska-Płaksej
Marcin Kałużny
Jędrzej Grzegrzółka
Maja Jończyk
Marek Bolanowski
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Endocrine / Issue 3/2020
Print ISSN: 1355-008X
Electronic ISSN: 1559-0100
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-020-02468-1

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