Syndroom van Cushing I: Inleiding

Cushing syndrome occurs when the body is exposed to excess cortisol—a glucocorticoid hormone—or medications that mimic its effects over a long period.

Cushing syndrome has two primary categories of causes.

The first is iatrogenic or medication-related, the most common type, which happens when a person takes corticosteroids like prednisone for a long time.

The second type is endogenous Cushing syndrome, which is formally classified into ACTH-dependent and ACTH-independent causes.

The most common cause of endogenous Cushing syndrome is Cushing’s disease, where a noncancerous pituitary tumor secretes excess ACTH, stimulating the adrenal glands to produce more cortisol.

ACTH-independent causes include adrenal tumors, which may produce excess cortisol on their own, without ACTH stimulation.

Additionally, ectopic ACTH production comes from tumors outside the usual hormone system, often found in the lungs or pancreas. These tumors secrete ACTH and raise cortisol levels.