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ABC's - General Questions List of Categories
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- What Research Is Being Done on Cushing's Syndrome?
- What is ACTH?
- I have had a thyroid condition for about 20 yrs and take meds for that. I just recently went to my doctor for a physical and explained that I thought I might have diabetes. My blood work is being tested and I go back in 3 weeks. And in my search for answers I stumbled upon cushings. I have several symptoms but they are very similar to diabetes. Fatigue,blurry vision, thin limbs weight on upper (Got as a child),wounds don't heal with standing scabs,round face (always had), SEVRE moods swings that I cannot control ,highblood pressure, Weak bones(fractures both sides of ankle very recently resulting in surger,bruise easily,depression,peach fuzz in excess on face,no sex drive. Could my thyroid have something to do with this illness? Is there some correlation? Am I reading more into this. I also have a goiter which was detected by an endocrinologist when I was 13 and he said just to watch it. WEll it is now enlarged. I am just curious. Thanks and sorry so long and drawn out.
Jennifer So
- My Doctor thinks I may have cushings and that I may have a tumor. I was wondering if that tumor may be3 cancers. My docot just says lets wait and see what the test shows. I would like to know now though. Is Cushing tumors cancer. thanks LS
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What Research Is Being Done on Cushing's Syndrome?
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the biomedical research component of the Federal Government. It is one of the health agencies of the Public Health Service, which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Several components of the NIH conduct and support research on Cushing's syndrome and other disorders of the endocrine system, including the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), and the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
NIH-supported scientists are conducting intensive research into the normal and abnormal function of the major endocrine glands and the many hormones of the endocrine system. Identification of the corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), which instructs the pituitary gland to release ACTH, enabled researchers to develop the CRH stimulation test, which is increasingly being used to identify the cause of Cushing's syndrome.
Improved techniques for measuring ACTH permit distinction of ACTH-dependent forms of Cushing's syndrome from adrenal tumors. NIH studies have shown that petrosal sinus sampling is a very accurate test to diagnose the cause of Cushing's syndrome in those who have excess ACTH production. The recently described dexamethasone suppression-CRH test is able to differentiate most cases of Cushing's from Pseudo Cushing's.
As a result of this research, doctors are much better able to diagnose Cushing's syndrome and distinguish among the causes of this disorder. Since accurate diagnosis is still a problem for some patients, new tests are under study to further refine the diagnostic process.
Many studies are underway to understand the causes of formation of benign endocrine tumors, such as those which cause most cases of Cushing's syndrome. In a few pituitary adenomas, specific gene defects have been identified and may provide important clues to understanding tumor formation. Endocrine factors may also play a role. There is increasing evidence that tumor formation is a multi-step process. Understanding the basis of Cushing's syndrome will yield new approaches to therapy.
NIH supports research related to Cushing's syndrome at medical centers throughout the United States. Scientists are also treating patients with Cushing's syndrome at the NIH Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Physicians who are interested in referring a patient may contact Dr. George P. Chrousos, Developmental Endocrinology Branch, NICHD, Building 10, Room 10N262, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, telephone (301) 496-4686.
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What is ACTH?
ACTH stands for Adrenocorticotropic Hormone. It is a normal by-product of the anterior pituitary gland. It acts by controlling the secretion of the adrenal hormone, cortisol. Produced by the pituitary gland. Symptoms of ACTH deficiency include weakness, fatigue and gastrointestinal disturbances.
Greater-than-normal levels of ACTH may be from:- Addison's disease (because of deficient production by the adrenal gland)
- adrenoleukodystrophy (very rare)
- Cushing's disease
- ectopic tumor producing ACTH
- Nelson's syndrome (very rare)
- Cushing syndrome related to adrenal tumor
- exogenous Cushing's syndrome
- pituitary insufficiency
- hypopituitarism
- multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) I
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I have had a thyroid condition for about 20 yrs and take meds for that. I just recently went to my doctor for a physical and explained that I thought I might have diabetes. My blood work is being tested and I go back in 3 weeks. And in my search for answers I stumbled upon cushings. I have several symptoms but they are very similar to diabetes. Fatigue,blurry vision, thin limbs weight on upper (Got as a child),wounds don't heal with standing scabs,round face (always had), SEVRE moods swings that I cannot control ,highblood pressure, Weak bones(fractures both sides of ankle very recently resulting in surger,bruise easily,depression,peach fuzz in excess on face,no sex drive. Could my thyroid have something to do with this illness? Is there some correlation? Am I reading more into this. I also have a goiter which was detected by an endocrinologist when I was 13 and he said just to watch it. WEll it is now enlarged. I am just curious. Thanks and sorry so long and drawn out.
Jennifer So
From JenS on the message boards (http://cushings.invisionzone.com/index.php?showtopic=25643) Yes. And No. It may be that you have more than one issue. Also Cushing's causes diabetes which is resolved when the Cushing's is treated and put in to remission. The pressure of the tumor may effect other parts of the pituitary. Or, like many of us, having one autoimmune disease, you may develop another (especially if one is untreated) so you may have Hashimoto's or another thyroid condition as well as Cushing's. Antibodies should be checked to see how high they are. It seems that endocrine issues like to run in bunches too in some people too. Effective monitoring of a thyroid should include a free T3 and free T4 and not just a TSH especially if the pituitary is suspected not to be healthy. Weak bones in your case is very indicative of Cushing's disease and you need to get a complete check up for Cushing's syndrome. As more answers come in, they will be posted in the FAQ
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My Doctor thinks I may have cushings and that I may have a tumor. I was wondering if that tumor may be3 cancers. My docot just says lets wait and see what the test shows. I would like to know now though. Is Cushing tumors cancer. thanks LS
Cushing's tumors are very rarely cancerous. The most common type of Cushing's tumor is a pituitary tumor and that is almost never cancer. Best of luck to you!
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