scholarly journals Limited value of cabergoline in Cushing's disease: a prospective study of a 6-week treatment in 20 patients

2016 ◽  
Vol 174 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pia Burman ◽  
Britt Edén-Engström ◽  
Bertil Ekman ◽  
F Anders Karlsson ◽  
Erik Schwarcz ◽  
...  

Context and objectiveThe role of cabergoline in Cushing's disease (CD) remains controversial. The experience is limited to case reports and few open studies that report the effects determined after ≥1 month of treatment. In prolactinomas and dopamine-responsive GH-secreting tumours, effects of cabergoline are seen within days or weeks. Here, we searched for short-term effects of cabergoline in CD.DesignTwenty patients (19 naïve and one recurrent) were included in a prospective study. Cabergoline was administered in increasing doses of 0.5–5 mg/week over 6 weeks.MethodsUrinary free cortisol (UFC) 24 h, morning cortisol and ACTH, and salivary cortisol at 0800, 1600 and 2300 h were determined once weekly throughout. Diurnal curves (six samples) of serum cortisol were measured at start and end.ResultsAt study end, the median cabergoline dose was 5 mg, range 2.5–5 mg/week. The prolactin levels, markers of compliance, were suppressed in all patients. During the treatment, hypercortisolism varied, gradual and dose-dependent reductions were not seen. Five patients had a >50% decrease of UFC, three had a >50% rise of UFC. Salivary cortisol at 2300 h showed a congruent >50% change with UFC in two of the five cases with decreased UFC, and in one of the three cases with increased UFC. One patient with decreases in both UFC and 2300 h salivary cortisol also had a reduction in diurnal serum cortisol during the course of the study.ConclusionsCabergoline seems to be of little value in the management of CD. Only one patient had a response-like pattern. Given the known variability of disease activity in CD, this might represent a chance finding.

2020 ◽  
Vol 182 (2) ◽  
pp. 207-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Newell-Price ◽  
Rosario Pivonello ◽  
Antoine Tabarin ◽  
Maria Fleseriu ◽  
Przemysław Witek ◽  
...  

Objective Monitoring of patients with Cushing’s disease on cortisol-lowering drugs is usually performed with urinary free cortisol (UFC). Late-night salivary cortisol (LNSC) has an established role in screening for hypercortisolism and can help to detect the loss of cortisol circadian rhythm. Less evidence exists regarding the usefulness of LNSC in monitoring pharmacological response in Cushing’s disease. Design Exploratory analysis evaluating LNSC during a Phase III study of long-acting pasireotide in Cushing’s disease (clinicaltrials.gov: NCT01374906). Methods Mean LNSC (mLNSC) was calculated from two samples, collected on the same days as the first two of three 24-h urine samples (used to calculate mean UFC [mUFC]). Clinical signs of hypercortisolism were evaluated over time. Results At baseline, 137 patients had evaluable mLNSC measurements; 91.2% had mLNSC exceeding the upper limit of normal (ULN; 3.2 nmol/L). Of patients with evaluable assessments at month 12 (n = 92), 17.4% had both mLNSC ≤ULN and mUFC ≤ULN; 22.8% had mLNSC ≤ULN, and 45.7% had mUFC ≤ULN. There was high variability in LNSC (intra-patient coefficient of variation (CV): 49.4%) and UFC (intra-patient CV: 39.2%). mLNSC levels decreased over 12 months of treatment and paralleled changes in mUFC. Moderate correlation was seen between mLNSC and mUFC (Spearman’s correlation: ρ = 0.50 [all time points pooled]). Greater improvements in systolic/diastolic blood pressure and weight were seen in patients with both mLNSC ≤ULN and mUFC ≤ULN. Conclusion mUFC and mLNSC are complementary measurements for monitoring treatment response in Cushing’s disease, with better clinical outcomes seen for patients in whom both mUFC and mLNSC are controlled.


2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (5) ◽  
pp. 276-281
Author(s):  
Patimat M. Khandaeva ◽  
Zhanna E. Belaya ◽  
Lyudmila Ya. Rozhinskaya ◽  
Aleksandr V. Vorontsov ◽  
Andrey Yu. Grigoriev ◽  
...  

The remission rate of Cushing’s disease in patients after neurosurgery varies from 59 to 94%, while the recurrence rate is 3 to 46%. Aim — to evaluate the five-year outcome in neurosurgery patients with Cushing’s disease (CD), depending on preoperative MRI-based identification of pituitary adenoma. Material and methods. The study included 105 neurosurgery patients with histologically confirmed CD. CD remission was confirmed by the development of adrenal insufficiency and/or normalization of serum cortisol and 24-hour urinary free cortisol (24h UFC) levels, as well as by clinical remission. Results. Pituitary adenoma was not visualized by gadolinium MRI in 35 cases. The size of visualized pituitary adenoma varied from 0.3 to 29 mm. After first neurosurgery, remission was achieved in 87 (82.8%) patients. After second neurosurgery, remission occurred in 12 patients. Radiation therapy was conducted in 24 patients. Six patients had bilateral adrenalectomy. Two patients died during remission: one patient died from stroke two years after neurosurgery, and the other patient died due to surgery complications. During five-year follow-up after neurosurgery, remission continued in 76 (72.8%) patients, including 27 (77%) of 35 patients without MRI-detected adenoma and 49 (70%) of 70 patients with MRI-detected pituitary adenoma, p=0.15. Sixty-six patients developed recurrence, and 14 patients had active hypercortisolism. Conclusion. There was no correlation between the rate of preoperative MRI-based detection of pituitary adenoma and the rate of remission in neurosurgery patients with Cushing’s disease during the five year follow-up. The size of pituitary adenoma was a risk factor for adenoma recurrence.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucio Vilar ◽  
José Luciano Albuquerque ◽  
Ruy Lyra ◽  
Erik Trovão Diniz ◽  
Frederico Rangel Filho ◽  
...  

Objective. This prospective open trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of isotretinoin (13-cis-retinoic acid) in patients with Cushing’s disease (CD).Methods. Sixteen patients with CD and persistent or recurrent hypercortisolism after transsphenoidal surgery were given isotretinoin orally for 6–12 months. The drug was started on 20 mg daily and the dosage was increased up to 80 mg daily if needed and tolerated. Clinical, biochemical, and hormonal parameters were evaluated at baseline and monthly for 6–12 months.Results. Of the 16 subjects, 4% (25%) persisted with normal urinary free cortisol (UFC) levels at the end of the study. UFC reductions of up to 52.1% were found in the rest. Only patients with UFC levels below 2.5-fold of the upper limit of normal achieved sustained UFC normalization. Improvements of clinical and biochemical parameters were also noted mostly in responsive patients. Typical isotretinoin side-effects were experienced by 7 patients (43.7%), though they were mild and mostly transient. We also observed that the combination of isotretinoin with cabergoline, in relatively low doses, may occasionally be more effective than either drug alone.Conclusions. Isotretinoin may be an effective and safe therapy for some CD patients, particularly those with mild hypercortisolism.


2013 ◽  
Vol 57 (6) ◽  
pp. 486-489 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcio Carlos Machado ◽  
Patricia Sampaio Gadelha ◽  
Marcello Delano Bronstein ◽  
Maria Candida Barisson Vilares Fragoso

Cushing's disease (CD) is usually caused by secretion of ACTH by a pituitary corticotroph microadenoma. Nevertheless, 7%-20% of patients present with ACTH-secreting macroadenomas. Our aim is to report a 36-year-old female patient with CD due to solid-cystic ACTH-macroadenoma followed up during 34 months. The patient presented spontaneous remission due to presumed asymptomatic tumor apoplexy. She showed typical signs and symptoms of Cushing's syndrome (CS). Initial tests were consistent with ACTH-dependent CS: elevated urinary free cortisol, abnormal serum cortisol after low dose dexamethasone suppression test, and elevated midnight salivary cortisol, associated with high plasma ACTH levels. Pituitary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a sellar mass of 1.2 x 0.8 x 0.8 cm of diameter with supra-sellar extension leading to slight chiasmatic impingement, and showing hyperintensity on T2-weighted imaging, suggesting a cystic component. She had no visual impairment. After two months, while waiting for pituitary surgery, she presented spontaneous resolution of CS. Tests were consistent with remission of hypercortisolism: normal 24-h total urinary cortisol and normal midnight salivary cortisol. Pituitary MRI showed shrinkage of the tumor with disappearance of the chiasmatic compression. She has been free from the disease for 28 months (without hypercortisolism or hypopituitarism). The hormonal and imaging data suggested that silent apoplexy of pituitary tumor led to spontaneous remission of CS. However, recurrence of CS was described in cases following pituitary apoplexy. Therefore, careful long-term follow-up is required.


2015 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. E4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vivek Bansal ◽  
Nadine El Asmar ◽  
Warren R. Selman ◽  
Baha M. Arafah

Despite many recent advances, the management of patients with Cushing's disease continues to be challenging. Cushing's syndrome is a complex metabolic disorder that is a result of excess glucocorticoids. Excluding the exogenous causes, adrenocorticotropic hormone–secreting pituitary adenomas account for nearly 70% of all cases of Cushing's syndrome. The suspicion, diagnosis, and differential diagnosis require a logical systematic approach with attention paid to key details at each investigational step. A diagnosis of endogenous Cushing's syndrome is usually suspected in patients with clinical symptoms and confirmed by using multiple biochemical tests. Each of the biochemical tests used to establish the diagnosis has limitations that need to be considered for proper interpretation. Although some tests determine the total daily urinary excretion of cortisol, many others rely on measurements of serum cortisol at baseline and after stimulation (e.g., after corticotropin-releasing hormone) or suppression (e.g., dexamethasone) with agents that influence the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Other tests (e.g., measurements of late-night salivary cortisol concentration) rely on alterations in the diurnal rhythm of cortisol secretion. Because more than 90% of the cortisol in the circulation is protein bound, any alteration in the binding proteins (transcortin and albumin) will automatically influence the measured level and confound the interpretation of stimulation and suppression data, which are the basis for establishing the diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome. Although measuring late-night salivary cortisol seems to be an excellent initial test for hypercortisolism, it may be confounded by poor sampling methods and contamination. Measurements of 24-hour urinary free-cortisol excretion could be misleading in the presence of some pathological and physiological conditions. Dexamethasone suppression tests can be affected by illnesses that alter the absorption of the drug (e.g., malabsorption, celiac disease) and by the concurrent use of medications that interfere with its metabolism (e.g., inducers and inhibitors of the P450 enzyme system). In this review, the authors aim to review the pitfalls commonly encountered in the workup of patients suspected to have hypercortisolism. The optimal diagnosis and therapy for patients with Cushing's disease require the thorough and close coordination and involvement of all members of the management team.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A521-A522
Author(s):  
Maria Fleseriu ◽  
Beverly M K Biller ◽  
Jerome Bertherat ◽  
Jacques Young ◽  
Giorgio Arnaldi ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction: During the 22-week core LINC 2 study, the oral 11β-hydroxylase inhibitor osilodrostat normalized mean urinary free cortisol (mUFC) in 79% (15/19) of patients with Cushing’s disease. This report describes long-term LINC 2 efficacy and safety results following an optional extension. Methods: Patients receiving clinical benefit at week 22 could enter the extension (that ran until Oct 22, 2019), continuing the same osilodrostat dose; dose adjustments were permitted based on efficacy and safety. Response rate (mUFC ≤ULN [controlled] or mUFC >ULN but ≥50% decrease from baseline [BL; partially controlled]) was assessed over time. Efficacy/safety were assessed for all patients from core BL until study end. Results: Of 19 enrolled patients (female:male 14:5; mean [SD] age 36.8 years [8.4]), 16 entered the optional extension and 8 of them remained on treatment until study end. Median (range) osilodrostat exposure was 282 weeks (2-351). Mean mUFC decreased from BL (9.9 x ULN) to ≤ULN by week 4 and remained stable throughout the study. All 19 patients achieved mUFC ≤ULN at least once during the study. At each assessment up to month 70 of the extension phase, 50-88% of ongoing patients were controlled, and up to 18% were partially controlled. Mean percentage change in clinical signs from BL (mean [SD]) to last assessment were: fasting plasma glucose, -10.8% (22.1) (from BL: 105.6 mg/dL [49.2]); HbA1c, -2.1% (9.0) (from BL: 5.7% [0.7]); systolic BP, -3.3% (12.6) (from BL: 132.6 mmHg [11.6]); diastolic BP, -2.0% (10.4) (from BL: 85.0 mmHg [6.5]); BMI, -5.9% (8.8) (from BL: 30.7 kg/m2 [7.0]). Overall, 9 patients discontinued treatment (n=2 core and n=7 extension), mostly because of AEs or no longer requiring treatment (n=3 each). The most common AEs during the entire treatment period were nausea (n=10), adrenal insufficiency, and headache (both n=9). AEs related to hypocortisolism and adrenal hormone precursor accumulation occurred in 11 (mostly adrenal insufficiency, n=9) and 12 patients (mostly hypertension, n=4), respectively; most were grade 1/2 and managed with dose adjustment/interruption and/or concomitant medication. Mean (SD) plasma ACTH increased from 1.8 x ULN (0.9) at BL to 7.1 x ULN (12.3) at week 22 and 6.9 x ULN (12.6) at last assessment. Mean (SD) 11-deoxycortisol increased from 1.2 x ULN (1.3) at BL to 13.6 x ULN (12.2) at week 22 and 3.6 x ULN (4.2) at last assessment. In females, mean (SD) testosterone increased from 0.8 x ULN (0.4) at BL to 2.4 x ULN (2.1) at week 22 and 1.0 x ULN (0.9) at last assessment. Two patients, both female, reported an AE of hirsutism. Conclusions: Rapid reductions in mUFC were sustained for up to 6 years of osilodrostat treatment and were accompanied by improvements in clinical signs of hypercortisolism. Osilodrostat was well tolerated, with no new safety signals during long-term treatment.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 4329
Author(s):  
Alexandra Povaliaeva ◽  
Viktor Bogdanov ◽  
Ekaterina Pigarova ◽  
Artem Zhukov ◽  
Larisa Dzeranova ◽  
...  

In this study we aimed to assess vitamin D metabolism in patients with Cushing’s disease (CD) compared to healthy individuals in the setting of bolus cholecalciferol treatment. The study group included 30 adults with active CD and the control group included 30 apparently healthy adults with similar age, sex and BMI. All participants received a single dose (150,000 IU) of cholecalciferol aqueous solution orally. Laboratory assessments including serum vitamin D metabolites (25(OH)D3, 25(OH)D2, 1,25(OH)2D3, 3-epi-25(OH)D3 and 24,25(OH)2D3), free 25(OH)D, vitamin D-binding protein (DBP) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) as well as serum and urine biochemical parameters were performed before the intake and on Days 1, 3 and 7 after the administration. All data were analyzed with non-parametric statistics. Patients with CD had similar to healthy controls 25(OH)D3 levels (p > 0.05) and higher 25(OH)D3/24,25(OH)2D3 ratios (p < 0.05) throughout the study. They also had lower baseline free 25(OH)D levels (p < 0.05) despite similar DBP levels (p > 0.05) and lower albumin levels (p < 0.05); 24-h urinary free cortisol showed significant correlation with baseline 25(OH)D3/24,25(OH)2D3 ratio (r = 0.36, p < 0.05). The increase in 25(OH)D3 after cholecalciferol intake was similar in obese and non-obese states and lacked correlation with BMI (p > 0.05) among patients with CD, as opposed to the control group. Overall, patients with CD have a consistently lower 25(OH)D3/24,25(OH)2D3 ratio, which is indicative of a decrease in 24-hydroxylase activity. This altered activity of the principal vitamin D catabolism might influence the effectiveness of cholecalciferol treatment. The observed difference in baseline free 25(OH)D levels is not entirely clear and requires further study.


Endocrine ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 207-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mattia Barbot ◽  
Valentina Guarnotta ◽  
Marialuisa Zilio ◽  
Filippo Ceccato ◽  
Alessandro Ciresi ◽  
...  

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