Synergistic cortisol suppression by ketoconazole–osilodrostat combination therapy

Summary Here, we describe a case of a patient presenting with adrenocorticotrophic hormone-independent Cushing’s syndrome in a context of primary bilateral macronodular adrenocortical hyperplasia. While initial levels of cortisol were not very high, we could not manage to control hypercortisolism with ketoconazole monotherapy, and could not increase the dose due to side effects. The same result was observed with another steroidogenesis inhibitor, osilodrostat. The patient was finally successfully treated with a well-tolerated synergitic combination of ketoconazole and osilodrostat. We believe this case provides timely and original insights to physicians, who should be aware that this strategy could be considered for any patients with uncontrolled hypercortisolism and delayed or unsuccessful surgery, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Learning points Ketoconazole–osilodrostat combination therapy appears to be a safe, efficient and well-tolerated strategy to supress cortisol levels in Cushing syndrome. Ketoconazole and osilodrostat appear to act in a synergistic manner. This strategy could be considered for any patient with uncontrolled hypercortisolism and delayed or unsuccessful surgery, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Considering the current cost of newly-released drugs, such a strategy could lower the financial costs for patients and/or society.

Childhood Maltreatment and Its Interaction with Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal Axis Activity and the Remission Status of Major Depression: Effects on Functionality and Quality of Life

Relationships among childhood maltreatment (CM), hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis disturbances, major depressive disorder (MDD), poor functionality, and lower quality of life (QoL) in adulthood have been described. We aimed to study the roles of the remission status of depression and HPA axis function in the relationships between CM and functionality and QoL. Ninety-seven patients with MDD and 97 healthy controls were included. The cortisol awakening response, cortisol suppression ratio in the dexamethasone suppression test, and diurnal cortisol slope were assessed. Participants completed measures of psychopathology, CM, functionality, and QoL. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to study the relationships between CM and functionality and QoL. Only non-remitted MDD patients showed lower functionality and QoL than controls, indicating that depressive symptoms may partly predict functionality and QoL. Cortisol measures did not differ between remitted and non-remitted patients. Although neither HPA axis measures nor depression remission status were consistently associated with functionality or QoL, these factors moderated the effects of CM on functionality and QoL. In conclusion, subtle neurobiological dysfunctions in stress-related systems could help to explain diminished functionality and QoL in individuals with CM and MDD and contribute to the persistence of these impairments even after the remission of depressive symptoms.

Steroid-Induced Iatrogenic Adrenal Insufficiency in Children: A Literature Review

The present review focuses on steroid-induced adrenal insufficiency (SIAI) in children and discusses the latest findings by surveying recent studies. SIAI is a condition involving adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol suppression due to high doses or prolonged administration of glucocorticoids. While its chronic symptoms, such as fatigue and loss of appetite, are nonspecific, exposure to physical stressors, such as infection and surgery, increases the risk of adrenal crisis development accompanied by hypoglycemia, hypotension, or shock. The low-dose ACTH stimulation test is generally used for diagnosis, and the early morning serum cortisol level has also been shown to be useful in screening for the condition. Medical management includes gradually reducing the amount of steroid treatment, continuing administration of hydrocortisone corresponding to the physiological range, and increasing the dosage when physical stressors are present.

Suppressing the morning cortisol rise after memory reactivation at 4 a.m. enhances episodic memory reconsolidation in humans

Evidence from animal and human research shows that established memories can undergo changes after reactivation through a process called reconsolidation. Alterations of the level of the stress hormone cortisol may be one way of manipulating reconsolidation. Here, in a double-blind, within-subject design, we reactivated a 3-day-old memory at 3:55 a.m., immediately followed by oral administration of metyrapone vs. placebo, to examine whether metyrapone-induced suppression of the morning cortisol rise may influence reconsolidation processes during and after early morning sleep. Crucially, reactivation followed by cortisol suppression vs. placebo resulted in enhanced memory for the reactivated episode (tested four days after reactivation). This enhancement after cortisol suppression was specific for the reactivated episode vs. a non-reactivated episode. These findings suggest that when reactivation of memories is immediately followed by suppression of cortisol levels during early morning sleep, reconsolidation processes change in a way that leads to the strengthening of episodic memory traces.

Prognostic markers of remission of cushing's disease after transsphenoidal endoscopic adenomektomii.

Aim. To study the role of prognostic oral high-dose dexamethasone suppression test (HDDST) and pituitary MRI in the prognosis of Cushing’s disease (CD). remission after transsphenoidal endoscopic surgery (TSS). Material and methods. 59 patients with Cushing’s disease (9 men, 50 women, mean age 40 years (15-72) underwent TSS were included. Before the TSS HDDST and pituitary MRI were performed in all cases. Postoperative examination was done one year after surgery. Remission criteria were: combination of normal midnight serum cortisol levels, normal 24 hour urine free cortisol (UFC) excretion and serum cortisol suppression less than 50 nmol/l in 1-mg dexamethasone test or secondary adrenal insufficiency (the need for glucocorticoid replacement). The optimal threshold value of serum cortisol suppression in the HDDST for prediction of CD remission after TSS was calculated by ROC-analysis. Results. One year after surgery CD remission was confirmed in 39 patients, whereas in 20 patients hypercortisolism persisted. The optimal threshold value of serum cortisol suppression in the HDDST for prediction of CD remission after TSS was 72%. Test’s sensitivity and specificity were 82% and 84%, respectively. The probability of wrong prediction was 17% (p=0,0001). In our study, the results of TSS did not correlate with MRI adenoma size.