Endocrine Abstracts

Subclinical Cushing’s syndrome (SCS) is a status of altered hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis secretion in the absence of the classical signs or symptoms of overt cortisol excess. Among the various tests used for the diagnosis of SCS, the 1-mg dexamethasone test (DST) is the most used. Alprazolam (ALP), a benzodiazepine activating GABAergic receptors, possesses clear centrally-mediated inhibitory effects on ACTH and cortisol secretion in normal subjects, while it d...

Impaired GH secretion occurs in Cushing’s syndrome (CS), reflecting hypothalamic and pituitary alterations, without IGF-I impairment. Obesity is known to blunt GH release, leading to BMI-related tests for GHD. Evaluation of GH in CS after remission is difficult, due to chronic previous hypercortisolism and persistent overweight. Aim of this study was to evaluate in 22 patients with Cushing’s syndrome (16 Cushing disease, CD, 6 adrenal adenomas, CS) GH response to GHR...

Interrelationships between HPA axis and sleep architecture are well documented and increased glucocorticoid levels seem associated with quantitative and qualitative sleep disruptions. The knowledge about sleep parameters in chronic hypercortisolism in humans is scanty. Our aim was to evaluate sleep efficiency in patients with Cushing’s syndrome (CS) at time of diagnosis, without ongoing specific therapy, using wrist actigraphy, a methodology that provides good estimations...