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Cushing’s Disease In Pregnancy

  • Chapter
Pituitary Tumors in Pregnancy

Part of the book series: Endocrine Updates ((ENDO,volume 15))

Abstract

Cushing’s syndrome is primarily a disorder of women of childbearing age. Yet, the coexistence of pregnancy and Cushing’s syndrome is rare. This rarity results from the infertility associated with suppression of gonadotropin secretion by elevated cortisol levels; oligomenorrhea or amenorrhea occur in approximately 75% of women of reproductive age (1). The increased production of androgens in some patients with Cushing’s syndrome also contributes to menstrual dysfunction. Hunt and McConaghy were the first to report cases of pregnancy associated with Cushing’s syndrome in 1953, twenty years after Harvey Cushing’s classic description of the disorder, and more than 100 cases of Cushing’s syndrome and pregnancy have been reported (2–4). While Cushing’s syndrome during pregnancy is difficult to diagnose both clinically and biochemically, it is important to have a high index of suspicion of the disease, since hypercortisolism may be associated with unfavorable maternal and fetal outcomes.

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  1. University Hospitals of Cleveland, and Louis Stokes Cleveland Dept. of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, 44106

    Zuhayr T. Madhun & David C. Aron

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  1. Hospital das Clinicas, University of São Paulo Medical School, Brazil

    Marcello D. Bronstein

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Madhun, Z.T., Aron, D.C. (2001). Cushing’s Disease In Pregnancy. In: Bronstein, M.D. (eds) Pituitary Tumors in Pregnancy. Endocrine Updates, vol 15. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1435-0_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1435-0_8

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