Cushing's Syndrome Causes

Cushing's syndrome is a condition that results from an excess of cortisol, a hormone produced by the adrenal glands. The most common cause of Cushing's syndrome is Cushing's disease caused by excessive production of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) by the pituitary gland. ACTH stimulates the adrenal glands to produce cortisol.

Cushing's syndrome can be caused by a tumor of the pituitary gland, a tumor of the adrenal gland, a tumor somewhere other than the pituitary or adrenal glands (ectopic Cushing's syndrome), or by long-term use of corticosteroids (drugs commonly used to treat conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and asthma).

Risk factors are adrenal tumor or pituitary tumor, chronic therapy with corticosteroids, and being female.

Other comon causes of Cushing's Syndrome

The most common cause of Cushing's syndrome is taking cortisone-like medicines orally (by mouth) every day for weeks to months. Prednisone is the most common medicine that's taken this way.

Inhaled steroid medicines for asthma and steroid skin creams for eczema and other skin conditions don't cause Cushing's syndrome. Even oral medicines taken every day for short periods of time or every other day for longer periods don't often cause a problem.

Be sure to tell your doctor if you're taking any other medicine or herbal product.