Cushing�s syndrome, main characteristics, different treatments, and outcomes: A single-center study

Abstract

Cushing's syndrome is a disorder with unknown prevalence in Colombia and response to available treatments varies. The objective of this study is to evaluate the patients' response to the various treatment options offered, and for this purpose, a retrospective cohort study was conducted with patients diagnosed with Cushing's syndrome. Demographic variables, associated comorbidities, and alternative treatments were reviewed in terms of persistence, remission, and recurrence of Cushing's syndrome. A total of 45 patients met the inclusion criteria, comprising a study group with an average age of 46 years, wherein 60% of patients were female and 47% suffered from hypertension. For all patients, surgery was the first-line option employed. After this initial treatment, 49% experienced remission and 32% recurrence. In the subgroup analyses, Cushing's syndrome patients exhibited 41% remission and 38% recurrence, while the remission rate for patients with adrenal adenoma was 100%, and only one out of the five patients with an ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone-secreting tumor experienced remission. (Nevertheless, this single patient had tumor recurrence after remission). In conclusion, the efficacy of the diverse available therapies varies according the population studied. The demographic characteristics are similar to those reported in the literature.