Endogenous Cushing syndrome (CS) is a rare and potentially life-threatening condition caused by chronic excessive cortisol exposure.1 CS is diagnosed in about 10-15 people out of every million in the US each year. This disease typically affects adults ages 20-50, and CS affects females around three times more frequently than males.2,3 Cushing’s is characterized by many health issues including weight gain, a rounded face, diabetes, high blood pressure, and fatigue.2
Cortisol is a hormone that acts like a messenger and controls other processes in the body.4 This hormone is released by two triangle-shaped organs above each kidney called adrenal glands.2 Cortisol plays many roles in the body, including regulating blood sugar levels, reducing inflammation, and responding to stress.2 CS is often the result of a benign (non-cancerous) tumor of the pituitary gland (located in the brain) that tells the adrenal glands to produce excessive amounts of cortisol for a sustained period of time.4 As a result, Cushing syndrome can disrupt this regulation when cortisol levels become chronically elevated.2 If left untreated, the 5-year survival for CS is about 50%.5