Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Patients with Cushing’s syndrome (CS) are prone to hypertension as cortisol stimulates renal reabsorption of sodium and enhances vascular sensitivity to catecholamine and angiotensin II. This explains the frequency of hypertension in patients with CS. The aim of our work was to assess the prevalence and characteristics of hypertension in CS.

Material and methods: This is a retrospective study concerning 51 CS (44F/7M) in whom we looked for the presence of high blood pressure (HBP). Thereafter, we looked for the characteristics of HBP in CS. CS was secondary to Cushing’s disease in 82% and to adrenal adenoma in 18%.

Results: HBP was present in 67%. Among hypertensive patients, 33% have diabetes mellitus and 33% have a background of familial hypertension. Mean age was 32.03±9.87 years and mean BMI was 30.77±6.58 kg/m². HBP was treated with one anti-hypertensive drug in 41% and two or more anti-hypertensive drugs in 33%. In 26% patients were treated with life style therapy only. 12% have hypertensive retinopathy, 5% have nephropathy, and 9% have cardiovascular disease. After treatment of CS hypertension persisted in 45% and resolved in 55%.

Conclusion: Hypertension is frequent in CS, it’s association with diabetes, dyslipidaemia and a pro-coagulant state also frequent in CS explain the high frequency of cardiovascular events in hypercortisolism states.