April - June 2017, Volume 13, Issue 2

Dogansen SC, Canbaz B, Canbaz B, Yarman S

Uncomplicated Pregnancy in a Patient with Cushing's Disease

Acta Endo (Buc) 2017, 13 (2): 215-219
doi: 10.4183/aeb.2017.215

The coexistence of Cushing’s syndrome (CS) and pregnancy is uncommon due to the suppression of gonadotropin secretion in CS. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) dependent CS in pregnancy is less frequent than adrenal causes. The diagnosis of CS during pregnancy is difficult since physiological changes in the hypothalamopituitary- adrenal axis may cause dynamic tests to be misinterpreted. Radiological imaging is limited. We report the case of a 27-year old woman with Cushing’s disease (CD) diagnosed in the 5th-week of pregnancy. The mild symptoms of hypercortisolism did not lead to serious complications for the mother or the fetus, so insulin was the only treatment used. The pregnancy was completed without any complications, and at 38 weeks of gestation a healthy female infant was delivered vaginally. Complications, such as hypocortisolemia and hypoglycemia, were not observed in the infant. Postpartum tests were consistent with CD. Contrast-enhanced pituitary magnetic resonance imaging revealed a microadenoma which was removed with transsphenoidal surgery. Histopathology revealed a pituitary adenoma with positive immunohistochemical staining for ACTH. Biochemical remission required prednisolone treatment, but the insulin requirement decreased significantly over time. As a conclusion, CD with mild features can be well tolerated during pregnancy, but the mother and the fetus must be monitored closely.

Keywords: Pregnancy, Cushing’s disease, hypercortisolemia, conservative treatment

Correspondence: Sema Ciftci Dogansen, Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Capa, 34090. Istanbul, Turkey, E-mail: drsemaciftci@hotmail.com