Young people with Cushing syndrome may be at higher risk for suicide, depression

Posted on March 30, 2016 by MaryO

Children with Cushing syndrome may be at higher risk for suicide as well as for depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions long after their disease has been successfully treated, according to a study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health.

Cushing syndrome results from high levels of the hormone cortisol. Long-term complications of the syndrome include obesity, diabetes, bone fractures, high blood pressure, kidney stones and serious infections. Cushing’s syndrome may be caused by tumors of the adrenal glands or other parts of the body that produce excess cortisol. It also may be caused by a pituitary tumor that stimulates the adrenal glands to produce high cortisol levels. Treatment usually involves stopping excess cortisol production by removing the tumor.

“Our results indicate that physicians who care for young people with Cushing syndrome should screen their patients for depression-related mental illness after the underlying disease has been successfully treated,” said the study’s senior author, Constantine Stratakis, D(med)Sci, director of the Division of Intramural Research at NIH’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. “Patients may not tell their doctors that they’re feeling depressed, so it’s a good idea for physicians to screen their patients proactively for depression and related conditions.”

Cushing syndrome may affect both adults and children. A recent study estimated that in the United States, there are 8 cases of Cushing syndrome per 1 million people per year.

The researchers published their findings in the journal Pediatrics. They reviewed the case histories of all children and youth treated for Cushing syndrome at NIH from 2003 to 2014, a total of 149 patients. The researchers found that, months after treatment, 9 children (roughly 6 percent) had thoughts of suicide and experienced outbursts of anger and rage, depression, irritability and anxiety. Of these, 7 experienced symptoms within 7 months of their treatment.

Two others began experiencing symptoms at least 48 months after treatment.

The authors noted that children with Cushing syndrome often develop compulsive behaviors and tend to become over-achievers in school. After treatment, however, they then become depressed and anxious. This is in direct contrast to adults with Cushing syndrome, who tend to become depressed and anxious before treatment and gradually overcome these symptoms after treatment.

The authors stated that health care providers might try to prepare children with Cushing syndrome before they undergo treatment, letting them know that their mood may change after surgery and may not improve for months or years. Similarly, providers should consider screening their patients periodically for suicide risk in the years following their treatment.

Source: NIH/Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

From http://www.news-medical.net/news/20160329/Young-people-with-Cushing-syndrome-may-be-at-higher-risk-for-suicide-depression.aspx

Filed under: adrenal, Cushing's, pituitary, symptoms, Treatments | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Webinar on Management Options for Pituitary Tumors March 22

Posted on March 19, 2016 by MaryO

Dr. Andaluz will cover the full breadth of treatment options from managing endocrine function, surgical procedures (transsphenoidal, endoscopic, and keyhole approaches), radiotherapy / radiosurgery, and the importance of getting care at a multidisciplinary center.

Dr. Norberto Andaluz is a neurosurgeon with the Mayfield Clinic and University of Cincinnati Brain Tumor Center. He is also Associate Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of Cincinnati, Surgical Director of the Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit, and Director of Neurotrauma at the University of Cincinnati Neuroscience Institute. He specializes in the treatment of all disorders and diseases of the brain and spine, but in particular, traumatic brain injury, aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), intracerebral hemorrhage, stroke, carotid artery disease, moyamoya disease and brain tumors (with special training in skull base tumors like pituitary adenoma). Dr. Andaluz received his medical degree from Unversidad Nacional de Rosario in Argentina. He completed his residency in neurosurgery at Instituto de Neurología y Neurocirugía at Sanatorio Parque in Rosario, Argentina and earned a fellowship in cerebrovascular surgery from the University of Cincinnati. Professional memberships include the American Heart Association, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, National Neurotrauma Society, Neurocritical Care Society and North American Skull Base Society.

Register at http://pituitary.org/events/webinar-management-options-for-pituitary-tumors

Filed under: Cushing's, Interview, Meetings and Conferences, pituitary, Webinar | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Sharmyn McGraw on Blogtalk Radio

Posted on March 18, 2016 by MaryO

sharm

 

March 22, 2016 7:00pm Eastern  Sharmyn speaks to medical professionals about the spiritual side of pain advocacy for patients with pituitary tumors and hormonal related disorders!  She’ll share how she turned the darkest part of her life into the best part.  Watch out because Sharmyn will also use Tumor Humor to keep the message light and fun.

Sharmyn will be be speaking with her good friend Garrett Miller, Rated G Radio. Garrett is fun, smart and to say creative is an understatement.

Garrett and Sharmyn will be having a conversation about how she turned being misdiagnosed for seven horrible years with Cushing’s disease into one of the best parts of her life.

Many of you have heard her talk about Cushing’s, but very few people have heard the back story, the personal and raw part of Sharmyn’s journey… well join them on March 22, at 7:00pm eastern and you can hear it all and join in also.

Use the call in number and let’s chat.

Sharmyn McGraw joins the show Tuesday to talk about turning Pain into Passion and Passion into Action!

Listen to the archives at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ratedgradio/2016/03/22/sharmyn-mcgraw-turning-pain-into-passion

 

Filed under: Cushing's, Interview, podcast, Rare Diseases | Tagged: , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Familial isolated pituitary adenoma (AIP study)

Posted on February 29, 2016 by MaryO

Professor Márta Korbonits is the Chief Investigator for the NIHR Clinical Research Network supported familial pituitary adenomas study (AIP) which is investigating the cause, the clinical characteristics and family screening of this relatively recently established disease group.

Please tell us about the condition in layman’s terms?
Pituitary adenomas are benign tumours of the master gland of the body, the pituitary gland. It is found at the base of the brain. The most commonly identified adenoma type causing familial disease makes excess amounts of growth hormone, and if this starts in childhood the patient have accelerated growth leading them to become much taller than their peers. This condition is known as gigantism.

How rare is this condition?
Pituitary adenomas cause disease in 1 in a 1000 person of the general population. About five to seven percent of these cases are familial pituitary adenomas.

How it is normally diagnosed?
There are different types of pituitary adenomas causing quite varied diseases. Gigantism and its adult counterpart acromegaly is usually diagnosed due to rapid growth, headaches, joint pains, sweating, high blood pressure and visual problems. Pituitary adenomas grow slowly and it usually takes 2-10 years before they get diagnosed. The diagnosis finally is made by blood tests measuring hormones, such as growth hormone, and doing an MRI scan of the pituitary area.

What is the study aiming to find out?
The fact that pituitary adenomas can occur in families relatively commonly was not recognised until recently. Our study introduced testing for gene alterations in the AIP (Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Interacting Protein) gene in the UK, and identified until now 38 families with 160 gene carriers via screening. We also aim to identify the disease-causing genes in our other families as well.

How will it benefit patients?
The screening and early treatment of patients can have a huge benefit to patients as earlier treatment will lead to less complications and better chance to recovery. We hope we can stop the abnormal growth spurts therefore avoiding gigantism. Patients that are screened will find out if they carry the AIP gene and whether they are likely to pass on the gene to their families. For most patients, knowing they have a gene abnormality also helps them to understand and accept their condition.

How will it change practice?
As knowledge of the condition becomes more understood, genetic testing of patients to screen for AIP changes should be more commonplace. Patients can be treated knowing they have this condition, and family members who are carriers of the gene can benefit from MRI scans to monitor their pituitary gland and annual hormone tests.

How did the NIHR CRN support the study?
The familial pituitary adenoma study is on the NIHR CRN Portfolio. The study’s association with NIHR has allowed the widespread assessment of the patients, has incentivised referrals from clinicians and raised awareness of both our study and the familial pituitary adenoma condition itself.

For more information contact NIHR CRN Communications Officer, Damian Wilcock on 020 3328 6705  or email damian.wilcock@nihr.ac.uk

From https://www.crn.nihr.ac.uk/blog/case_study/national-rare-disease-day-2016-familial-isolated-pituitary-adenoma-aip-study/

Filed under: Cushing's, growth hormone, pituitary | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Osilodrostat for Cushing’s

Posted on November 12, 2015 by MaryO

The study looked at a drug to treat Cushing’s disease. The article, in the journal Pituitary, is called Osilodrostat, a potent oral 11β-hydroxylase inhibitor: 22-week, prospective, Phase II study in Cushing’s disease.
Fleseriu M, Pivonello R, Young J, Hamrahian AH, Molitch ME, Shimizu C, Tanaka T, Shimatsu A, White T, Hilliard A, Tian C, Sauter N, Biller BM, Bertagna X.
Pituitary. 2015 Nov 5. [Epub ahead of print]

Abstract

PURPOSE:
In a 10-week proof-of-concept study (LINC 1), the potent oral 11β-hydroxylase inhibitor osilodrostat (LCI699) normalized urinary free cortisol (UFC) in 11/12 patients with Cushing’s disease. The current 22-week study (LINC 2; NCT01331239) further evaluated osilodrostat in patients with Cushing’s disease.

METHODS:
Phase II, open-label, prospective study of two patient cohorts. Follow-up cohort: 4/12 patients previously enrolled in LINC 1, offered re-enrollment if baseline mean UFC was above ULN. Expansion cohort: 15 newly enrolled patients with baseline UFC > 1.5 × ULN. In the follow-up cohort, patients initiated osilodrostat twice daily at the penultimate efficacious/tolerable dose in LINC 1; dose was adjusted as needed. In the expansion cohort, osilodrostat was initiated at 4 mg/day (10 mg/day if baseline UFC > 3 × ULN), with dose escalated every 2 weeks to 10, 20, 40, and 60 mg/day until UFC ≤ ULN. Main efficacy endpoint was the proportion of responders (UFC ≤ ULN or ≥50 % decrease from baseline) at weeks 10 and 22.

RESULTS:
Overall response rate was 89.5 % (n/N = 17/19) at 10 weeks and 78.9 % (n/N = 15/19) at 22 weeks; at week 22, all responding patients had UFC ≤ ULN. The most common AEs observed during osilodrostat treatment were nausea, diarrhea, asthenia, and adrenal insufficiency (n = 6 for each). New or worsening hirsutism (n = 2) and/or acne (n = 3) were reported among four female patients, all of whom had increased testosterone levels.

CONCLUSIONS:
Osilodrostat treatment reduced UFC in all patients; 78.9 % (n/N = 15/19) had normal UFC at week 22. Treatment with osilodrostat was generally well tolerated.

KEYWORDS:
11β-hydroxylase; Cortisol; Cushing’s; LCI699; Osilodrostat

Filed under: Cushing's, pituitary, Treatments | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

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