Adreno Corticotrophic Hormone Plasma Tips

The adrenal glands are present above the kidneys (hence the name) and produce an important hormone known as cortisol. Cortisol is responsible for regulating multiple body functions, including controlling blood pressure, protein and carbohydrate metabolism, and anti-inflammatory response, and stress management.

Under natural circumstances, the body produces excessive cortisol in the following situations:
Physically stressing situations like illness, surgery, injury, pregnancy, etc.

Emotionally stressed situations
Alcoholism
Athletic training
Malnutrition
Depression
Panic disorders
Causes: Cushing s syndrome is a group of symptoms that manifest when there is too much cortisol in the body. It is more common in women than men, in the age group of 25 to 40. Some of the common causes of Cushing s syndrome are listed below:

Consuming too much of prednisone (and other steroids) or for prolonged periods can cause Cushing s syndrome. These are strong anti-inflammatory medications and are used in asthma, arthritis, lupus, transplants, etc., to control the body s inflammation reaction. It is therefore advisable to use topical steroids than oral steroids or injections as their effects are more noticeable and severe.
Adrenal gland tumors can cause excessive production of cortisol.
Pituitary gland tumors or adenomas also can also cause excessive production of cortisol, leading to Cushing s syndrome.
The first type is known as exogenous Cushing s disease and the others are known as endogenous Cushing s disease.
Signs and symptoms: Cushing s disease produces characteristic features which are referred to as the Cushingoid appearance. These features include the following:

A rounded, plump face with a pinkish hue
A moon face, with fat deposits on the face
A buffalo hump with fat deposits between the shoulders
Stretch marks on the abdomen, thighs, and arms
Weak muscles, especially in the hips and shoulder
Significant weight gain
Skin that gets thin and bruises easily
Extreme tiredness
High blood pressure
High blood sugar
Thin arms and legs
Delayed healing of cuts and injuries
Increased facial hair in women
Menstrual disorders
Reduced libido, infertility, and erectile dysfunction in men
Emotional issues like depression, anxiety, irritability
Increased thirst and urination
Bone loss, and eventually fractures
Affected bone growth in the developing years
Increased susceptibility to infections
Complications: Untreated Cushing s disease can lead to bone fractures, hypertension, full-blown infections, kidney stones, etc.

Treatment: This would depend on the cause. If you are on long-term steroids, the dose would need to be adjusted. This should always be done under medical supervision, as it requires constant adjustment. Underlying tumors (pituitary or adrenal) need to be diagnosed and treated. There are other hormones too which come into the picture and need to be monitored.

Cushing s syndrome occurs due to abnormally high levels of the hormone cortisol. This can happen for a variety of reasons. The most common cause is overuse of corticosteroid medications.

Causes:

Your adrenal glands produce cortisol. It helps with a number of your body s functions, including:

regulating blood pressure and the cardiovascular system

reducing the immune system s inflammatory response

converting carbohydrates, fats, and proteins into energy

balancing the effects of insulin

responding to stress

Your body may produce high levels of cortisol for a variety of reasons, including:

high-stress levels, including stress related to an acute illness, surgery, injury, or pregnancy, especially in the final trimester

athletic training

malnutrition

alcoholism

depression, panic disorders, or high levels of emotional stress

The most common cause of Cushing s syndrome is the use of corticosteroid medications, such as prednisone, in high doses for a long period. High doses of injectable steroids for treatment of back pain can also cause this syndrome.

Other causes include:

a pituitary gland tumor in which the pituitary gland releases too much adrenocorticotropic hormone, which is also known as Cushing s disease

ectopic ACTH syndrome, which causes tumors that usually occur in the lung, pancreas, thyroid, or thymus gland

an adrenal gland abnormality or tumor

Symptoms of Cushing s Syndrome:

The most common symptoms of this condition are:

weight gain
obesity
fatty deposits, especially in the midsection, the face and between the shoulders and the upper back (causing a buffalo hump)
purple stretch marks on the breasts, arms, abdomen, and thighs
thinning skin that bruises easily
skin injuries that are slow to heal
acne
fatigue
muscle weakness
increased thirst
increased urination
bone loss
depression
an increased incidence of infections
Women may also notice extra facial and body hair, as well as absent or irregular menstruation.

Men may also have:

erectile dysfunction
a loss of sexual interest
decreased fertility
Children with this condition are generally obese and have a slower rate of growth.

The pituitary gland is a small, pea-sized attached to the base of the brain. It controls growth, functioning and development of other hormonal glands. Deficit of one or more pituitary hormones is a state of Hypopituitarism. This clinical term is used by endocrinologists to mean that one or more pituitary glands are deficient. In hypopituitarism, the pituitary gland does not produce the normal amounts of hormones.

Causes-

Hypopituitarism has the following causes

Brain tumours

Sarcoidosis (A lung disorder)

Tumours in the pituitary gland

Hemochromatosis (Too much iron in the body)

Tumours in hypothalamus (Controls the production of hormones)

Histiocytosis X (A rare autoimmune disease where the immune cells damage the organs)

Tuberculosis

Stroke

Sheehan syndrome (Excessive blood loss during childbirth)

Lymphocytic hypophysitis (An inflammation in the pituitary gland)

Radiation treatments like chemotherapy

Symptoms-

Symptoms depend on which hormones is not being produced.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACH): Lack of ACH affects the adrenal glands (endocrine glands producing hormones) and cortisol (steroid hormone). Symptoms include

Fatigue

Low sodium levels

Loss of weight

Pale skin

Thyroid-stimulating Hormone (TSH): Deficient TSH mostly affects the thyroid (produces growth-regulating hormones) gland. The symptoms are

Fatigue

Weight gain

Skin dryness

Sensitivity to cold

Constipation

Luteinizing hormone (LH): Low luteinizing hormone in women affects their ovaries and ovulation. Symptoms include-

irregular periods

loss of libido

infertility

In men, lack of LH affects their testes and sperm production. Symptoms include-

loss of libido

erectile dysfunction

impotence

infertility.

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH): This hormone affects men and women the same way the luteinizing hormone does. Thus the symptoms are the same.

Growth Hormone: In children, the growth hormone affects their bone, fat and muscle. They have the following symptoms

Lack of height

Increase in body fat

Abnormal peak bone mass (bone tissue present after the skeleton matures)

In adults, the whole body is affected. Body fat increases while muscle and bone mass decreases.

Prolactin: Prolactin deficiency only affects women. The prolactin hormone gets the production of milk started after childbirth. Lack of prolactin thus affects breastfeeding.

Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH): The kidneys are affected by lack of ADH. Symptoms include

Diluted urine

Frequent urination

Feeling excess thirst

Oxytocin: Lactation and childbirth are affected by lack of oxytocin.

The adrenal glands are present above the kidneys (hence the name) and produces an important hormone known as cortisol. Cortisol is responsible for regulating multiple body functions, including controlling the blood pressure, protein and carbohydrate metabolism, and anti-inflammatory response, and stress management.

Under natural circumstances, the body produces excessive cortisol in the following situations:
Physically stressing situations like illness, surgery, injury, pregnancy, etc.

Emotionally stressed situations
Alcoholism
Athletic training
Malnutrition
Depression
Panic disorders
Causes: Cushing s syndrome is a group of symptoms that manifest when there is too much cortisol in the body. It is more common in women than men, in the age group of 25 to 40. Some of the common causes for Cushing s syndrome are listed below:

Consuming too much of prednisone (and other steroids) or for prolonged periods can cause Cushing s syndrome. These are strong anti-inflammatory medications and are used in asthma, arthritis, lupus, transplants, etc., to control the body s inflammation reaction. It is therefore advisable to use topical steroids than oral steroids or injections as their effects are more noticeable and severe.
Adrenal gland tumours can cause excessive production of cortisol.
Pituitary gland tumours or adenomas also can also cause excessive production of cortisol, leading to Cushing s syndrome.
The first type is known as exogenous Cushing s disease and the others are known as endogenous Cushing s disease.
Signs and symptoms: Cushing s disease produces characteristic features which are referred to as the Cushingoid appearance. These features include the following:

A rounded, plump face with a pinkish hue
A moon face, with fat deposits on the face
A buffalo hump with fat deposits between the shoulders
Stretch marks on the abdomen, thighs, and arms
Weak muscles, especially in the hips and shoulder
Significant weight gain
Skin that gets thin and bruises easily
Extreme tiredness
High blood pressure
High blood sugar
Thin arms and legs
Delayed healing of cuts and injuries
Increased facial hair in women
Menstrual disorders
Reduced libido, infertility, and erectile dysfunction in men
Emotional issues like depression, anxiety, irritability
Increased thirst and urination
Bone loss, and eventually fractures
Affected bone growth in the developing years
Increased susceptibility to infections
Complications: Untreated Cushing s disease can lead to bone fractures, hypertension, full-blown infections, kidney stones, etc.

Treatment: This would depend on the cause. If you are on long-term steroids, the dose would need to be adjusted. This should always be done under medical supervision, as it requires constant adjustment. Underlying tumours (pituitary or adrenal) need to be diagnosed and treated. There are other hormones too which come into the picture and need to be monitored.

Cushing syndrome or round face syndrome, as some like to call it, is a hormonal disorder that is relatively uncommon. It is all about the stress hormone called Cortisol and how it can throw off the body systems. Read on to know the causes and symptoms of this disorder. But first of all, let us know what exactly is the Cushing syndrome?

When an individual's body is exposed more to a particular hormone called Cortisol, he/she may develop a condition called as Cushing syndrome. This can lead to unusual and uncomfortable symptoms. However, this condition of hypercortisolism is completely curable and the patients can continue to lead a normal life. Cushing syndrome is more common in women than in men and occurs mostly between the age of 25 to 40.

Symptoms of cushing syndrome

Excessive weight gain and obesity
Fatty deposits that tend to accumulate in the midsection, face (causing moon facies) or between the shoulders and upper back causing a hump
Fatigue and muscle weakness
Thinning skin that is prone to bruises easily
Purple stretch marks on the arms, thighs, abdomen and breast
Cognitive dysfunction with increased anxiety, irritability and depression
Women can experience extra facial and body hair with irregular or absent periods
High blood pressure and high blood sugar levels
Low sex drive and erectile dysfunction
Weak bones and osteoporosis
Children with this ailment tend to obese and experience a slow growth rate
Causes of Cushing Syndrome
As mentioned above the major cause of Cushing syndrome is the high production of Cortisol. This hormone is produced by the adrenal gland that sits on top of your kidneys. The prime reasons for the over-production of Cortisol can be:

High-stress levels
Malnutrition
Alcoholism
Depression, panic disorder and high levels of emotional stress
Athletic training
Also, another prime cause of this syndrome is the use of corticosteroid medications, such as prednisone, in high doses for a long period. These prescriptions are often given for conditions of asthma, organ transplant, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. A tumor in the pituitary gland that is located at the base of the brain or a tumor in the adrenal glands can also lead to excessive production of Cortisol, thereby leading to Cushing Syndrome.

Diagnosis and treatment
Diagnosis is done by your doctor to determine the cause of the excess production of the hormone. Tests can include:

Blood Test or imaging scans
Dexamethasone suppression test
24-hour urinary free cortisol test
Late-night salivary cortisol level
Treatment will vary with the actual cause of the disorder. Medications to decrease cortisol levels or block them can be given.

The adrenal glands are present above the kidneys (hence the name) and produces an important hormone known as cortisol. Cortisol is responsible for regulating multiple body functions, including controlling the blood pressure, protein and carbohydrate metabolism, and anti-inflammatory response, and stress management.

Under natural circumstances, the body produces excessive cortisol in the following situations:

Physically stressing situations like illness, surgery, injury, pregnancy, etc.

Emotionally stressed situations
Alcoholism
Athletic training
Malnutrition
Depression
Panic disorders
Causes: Cushing s syndrome is a group of symptoms that manifest when there is too much cortisol in the body. It is more common in women than men, in the age group of 25 to 40. Some of the common causes of Cushing s syndrome are listed below:

Consuming too much of prednisone (and other steroids) or for prolonged periods can cause Cushing s syndrome. These are strong anti-inflammatory medications and are used in asthma, arthritis, lupus, transplants, etc., to control the body s inflammation reaction. It is therefore advisable to use topical steroids than oral steroids or injections as their effects are more noticeable and severe.
Adrenal gland tumours can cause excessive production of cortisol.
Pituitary gland tumours or adenomas also can also cause excessive production of cortisol, leading to Cushing s syndrome.
The first type is known as exogenous Cushing s disease and the others are known as endogenous Cushing s disease.

Signs and symptoms: Cushing s disease produces characteristic features which are referred to as the Cushingoid appearance. These features include the following:

A rounded, plump face with a pinkish hue
A moon face, with fat deposits on the face
A buffalo hump with fat deposits between the shoulders
Stretch marks on the abdomen, thighs, and arms
Weak muscles, especially in the hips and shoulder
Significant weight gain
Skin that gets thin and bruises easily
Extreme tiredness
High blood pressure
High blood sugar
Thin arms and legs
Delayed healing of cuts and injuries
Increased facial hair in women
Menstrual disorders
Reduced libido, infertility, and erectile dysfunction in men
Emotional issues like depression, anxiety, irritability
Increased thirst and urination
Bone loss, and eventually fractures
Affected bone growth in the developing years
Increased susceptibility to infections
Complications: Untreated Cushing s disease can lead to bone fractures, hypertension, full-blown infections, kidney stones, etc.

Treatment: This would depend on the cause. If you are on long-term steroids, the dose would need to be adjusted. This should always be done under medical supervision, as it requires constant adjustment. Underlying tumours (pituitary or adrenal) need to be diagnosed and treated. There are other hormones too which come into the picture and need to be monitored.

The adrenal glands are present above the kidneys (hence the name) and produces an important hormone known as cortisol. Cortisol is responsible for regulating multiple body functions, including controlling the blood pressure, protein and carbohydrate metabolism, and anti-inflammatory response, and stress management.

Under natural circumstances, the body produces excessive cortisol in the following situations:
Physically stressing situations like illness, surgery, injury, pregnancy, etc.

Emotionally stressed situations
Alcoholism
Athletic training
Malnutrition
Depression
Panic disorders
Causes: Cushing s syndrome is a group of symptoms that manifest when there is too much cortisol in the body. It is more common in women than men, in the age group of 25 to 40. Some of the common causes for Cushing s syndrome are listed below:

Consuming too much of prednisone (and other steroids) or for prolonged periods can cause Cushing s syndrome. These are strong anti-inflammatory medications and are used in asthma, arthritis, lupus, transplants, etc., to control the body s inflammation reaction. It is therefore advisable to use topical steroids than oral steroids or injections as their effects are more noticeable and severe.
Adrenal gland tumours can cause excessive production of cortisol.
Pituitary gland tumours or adenomas also can also cause excessive production of cortisol, leading to Cushing s syndrome.
The first type is known as exogenous Cushing s disease and the others are known as endogenous Cushing s disease.
Signs and symptoms: Cushing s disease produces characteristic features which are referred to as the Cushingoid appearance. These features include the following:

A rounded, plump face with a pinkish hue
A moon face, with fat deposits on the face
A buffalo hump with fat deposits between the shoulders
Stretch marks on the abdomen, thighs, and arms
Weak muscles, especially in the hips and shoulder
Significant weight gain
Skin that gets thin and bruises easily
Extreme tiredness
High blood pressure
High blood sugar
Thin arms and legs
Delayed healing of cuts and injuries
Increased facial hair in women
Menstrual disorders
Reduced libido, infertility, and erectile dysfunction in men
Emotional issues like depression, anxiety, irritability
Increased thirst and urination
Bone loss, and eventually fractures
Affected bone growth in the developing years
Increased susceptibility to infections
Complications: Untreated Cushing s disease can lead to bone fractures, hypertension, full-blown infections, kidney stones, etc.

Treatment: This would depend on the cause. If you are on long-term steroids, the dose would need to be adjusted. This should always be done under medical supervision, as it requires constant adjustment. Underlying tumours (pituitary or adrenal) need to be diagnosed and treated. There are other hormones too which come into the picture and need to be monitored.

The adrenal glands are present above the kidneys (hence the name) and produces an important hormone known as cortisol. Cortisol is responsible for regulating multiple body functions, including controlling the blood pressure, protein and carbohydrate metabolism, and anti-inflammatory response, and stress management.

Under natural circumstances, the body produces excessive cortisol in the following situations:
Physically stressing situations like illness, surgery, injury, pregnancy, etc.

Emotionally stressed situations
Alcoholism
Athletic training
Malnutrition
Depression
Panic disorders
Causes: Cushing s syndrome is a group of symptoms that manifest when there is too much cortisol in the body. It is more common in women than men, in the age group of 25 to 40. Some of the common causes for Cushing s syndrome are listed below:

Consuming too much of prednisone (and other steroids) or for prolonged periods can cause Cushing s syndrome. These are strong anti-inflammatory medications and are used in asthma, arthritis, lupus, transplants, etc., to control the body s inflammation reaction. It is therefore advisable to use topical steroids than oral steroids or injections as their effects are more noticeable and severe.
Adrenal gland tumours can cause excessive production of cortisol.
Pituitary gland tumours or adenomas also can also cause excessive production of cortisol, leading to Cushing s syndrome.
The first type is known as exogenous Cushing s disease and the others are known as endogenous Cushing s disease.
Signs and symptoms: Cushing s disease produces characteristic features which are referred to as the Cushingoid appearance. These features include the following:



A rounded, plump face with a pinkish hue
A moon face, with fat deposits on the face
A buffalo hump with fat deposits between the shoulders
Stretch marks on the abdomen, thighs, and arms
Weak muscles, especially in the hips and shoulder
Significant weight gain
Skin that gets thin and bruises easily
Extreme tiredness
High blood pressure
High blood sugar
Thin arms and legs
Delayed healing of cuts and injuries
Increased facial hair in women
Menstrual disorders
Reduced libido, infertility, and erectile dysfunction in men
Emotional issues like depression, anxiety, irritability
Increased thirst and urination
Bone loss, and eventually fractures
Affected bone growth in the developing years
Increased susceptibility to infections
Complications: Untreated Cushing s disease can lead to bone fractures, hypertension, full-blown infections, kidney stones, etc.

Treatment: This would depend on the cause. If you are on long-term steroids, the dose would need to be adjusted. This should always be done under medical supervision, as it requires constant adjustment. Underlying tumours (pituitary or adrenal) need to be diagnosed and treated. There are other hormones too which come into the picture and need to be monitored.

Cushing s syndrome occurs due to abnormally high levels of the hormone cortisol. This can happen for a variety of reasons. The most common cause is overuse of corticosteroid medications.

Causes:

Your adrenal glands produce cortisol. It helps with a number of your body s functions, including:

regulating blood pressure and the cardiovascular system

reducing the immune system s inflammatory response

converting carbohydrates, fats, and proteins into energy

balancing the effects of insulin

responding to stress

Your body may produce high levels of cortisol for a variety of reasons, including:

high stress levels, including stress related to an acute illness, surgery, injury, or pregnancy, especially in the final trimester

athletic training

malnutrition

alcoholism

depression, panic disorders, or high levels of emotional stress

The most common cause of Cushing s syndrome is the use of corticosteroid medications, such as prednisone, in high doses for a long period. High doses of injectable steroids for treatment of back pain can also cause this syndrome.

Other causes include:

a pituitary gland tumor in which the pituitary gland releases too much adrenocorticotropic hormone, which is also known as Cushing s disease

ectopic ACTH syndrome, which causes tumors that usually occur in the lung, pancreas, thyroid, or thymus gland

an adrenal gland abnormality or tumor

Symptoms of Cushing s Syndrome:

The most common symptoms of this condition are:

weight gain
obesity
fatty deposits, especially in the midsection, the face and between the shoulders and the upper back (causing a buffalo hump)
purple stretch marks on the breasts, arms, abdomen, and thighs
thinning skin that bruises easily
skin injuries that are slow to heal
acne
fatigue
muscle weakness
increased thirst
increased urination
bone loss
depression
an increased incidence of infections
Women may also notice extra facial and body hair, as well as absent or irregular menstruation.

Men may also have:

erectile dysfunction
a loss of sexual interest
decreased fertility
Children with this condition are generally obese and have a slower rate of growth.

The body functions are controlled by hormones which are produced by various endocrine glands (named so because these glands secrete hormones directly into the body). There are various endocrine glands, and these are controlled by the master endocrine gland which is the pituitary gland.

The pituitary gland produces prolactin which helps regulate milk production when a woman is breast-feeding. To a smaller extent, it also has some effect on other hormones.

Prolactinoma is a benign tumour of the pituitary gland which produces large amount of prolactin. The cells in the pituitary gland multiply to produce large amounts of prolactin. In people with prolactinoma, there are reduced amounts of oestrogen in females and testosterones in males.

Causes: Though the cause is unknown, a genetic connection believed to exist. They can develop in men as well.

Types: Depending on the size of the tumour, the tumour is of two main types microprolactinoma (when the tumour measures less than 10 mm) and macroprolactinoma (when the tumour measures more than 10 mm).

Signs and symptoms: Though the most important function of prolactin is the regulation of breast milk production, it also has various other functions in both men and women. The symptoms, therefore, would depend on the gender and the age group.

Men: Reduced libido, erectile dysfunction, reduced fertility, and gynecomastia and sometimes even production of milk.

Women: Menstrual disorders, including lack of periods or irregular periods, reduced fertility, reduced libido, increased facial hair, and spontaneous leakage of milk from the breasts.

In addition to the above symptoms, as the tumour continues to grow, there could be pressure on the surrounding nerves, leading to headaches, blurred of vision, and even double vision. As the tumour grows, the normal pituitary functioning may be affected, and other hormones may not be produced and accordingly the symptoms would appear.

Treatment:

It is the only pituitary tumor which shrink in size with drugs known as dopamine agonist. Patient might require the treatment for 2-3 years. In some cases surgery and radiotherapy is needed.

So, the answer to the question is yes there is treatment for Prolactinoma and its medicine in majority of the cases.

Consult your endocrinologist for details!