European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

PREVALENCE OF METABOLIC ABNORMALITIES AND HPA AXIS SUPPRESSION INPATIENTS WITH EXOGENOUS CUSHING’S SYNDROME

P. Amaresh Reddy*and N. Rajendra Prasad

ABSTRACT

Context: Corticosteroids play an important role in treatment for various inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. However, corticosteroids have a considerable number of side effects, including diabetes, hypertension, lipid disorders, osteoporosis, myopathy, etc which are components of Cushing’s syndrome (CS). Aims: The present was done to study the prevalence of metabolic abnormalities and status of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in patients with exogenous Cushing’s syndrome. Material and Methods: Forty individuals receiving various types of corticosteroids were recruited in this study. Glucose tolerance test (GTT), lipid profile and cortisol were estimated. They were divided into two groups based on 8.00am cortisol levels (Group I < 5mcg/dL; Group II >5mcg/dL to <15mcg/dL). The data were reported as means ± SD. Students‘t’ test was used to study the significant difference between two groups. Results: The prevalence of impaired fasting glycemia (IFG), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and diabetes was 17.5%, 45% and 30% respectively. Also, the prevalence of systolic and diastolic hypertension was 55% and 35% respectively. The prevalence of complications like acid peptic disease, fractures, avascular necrosis of hip are 30% (12/40), 12.5% (5/40) and 7.5% (3/40) respectively. More than 50% of patients had elevated levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL cholesterol and decreased HDL-cholesterol levels. However, there was no significant difference in age, BMI, blood pressure, FBS, PPBS and lipid profile between group I and group II. Conclusion: The present study showed increased prevalence of abnormal glucose intolerance, hypertension and altered lipid profile in patients with exogenous corticosteroid induced CS.

Keywords: abnormal glucose tolerance, corticosteroids, cushing’s syndrome, dyslipidemia, hypertension.