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Prete A, Bancos I. Mild autonomous cortisol secretion: pathophysiology, comorbidities and management approaches. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2024:10.1038/s41574-024-00984-y. [PMID: 38649778 DOI: 10.1038/s41574-024-00984-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
The majority of incidentally discovered adrenal tumours are benign adrenocortical adenomas and the prevalence of adrenocortical adenomas is around 1-7% on cross-sectional abdominal imaging. These can be non-functioning adrenal tumours or they can be associated with autonomous cortisol secretion on a spectrum that ranges from rare clinically overt adrenal Cushing syndrome to the much more prevalent mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS) without signs of Cushing syndrome. MACS is diagnosed (based on an abnormal overnight dexamethasone suppression test) in 20-50% of patients with adrenal adenomas. MACS is associated with cardiovascular morbidity, frailty, fragility fractures, decreased quality of life and increased mortality. Management of MACS should be individualized based on patient characteristics and includes adrenalectomy or conservative follow-up with treatment of associated comorbidities. Identifying patients with MACS who are most likely to benefit from adrenalectomy is challenging, as adrenalectomy results in improvement of cardiovascular morbidity in some, but not all, patients with MACS. Of note, diagnosis and management of patients with bilateral MACS is especially challenging. Current gaps in MACS clinical practice include a lack of specific biomarkers diagnostic of MACS-related health outcomes and a paucity of clinical trials demonstrating the efficacy of adrenalectomy on comorbidities associated with MACS. In addition, little evidence exists to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of long-term medical therapy in patients with MACS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Prete
- Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre, University of Birmingham and University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
| | - Irina Bancos
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism and Nutrition, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
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Ceccato F, Fleseriu M. Commentary: Cortisone or Cortisol, "the E" or "the F," That Is the Question! J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2023; 109:e428-e429. [PMID: 37290037 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgad348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Filippo Ceccato
- Department of Medicine (DIMED), University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
- Endocrine Disease Unit, University-Hospital of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
| | - Maria Fleseriu
- Pituitary Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Clinical Nutrition, Department of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
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Crawford M, McDonald B, Chen W, Chowdhry H, Contreras R, Reyes IAC, Dhakal E, Villanueva T, Barzilay JI, Vaughn CF, Czerwiec FS, Katz DA, Adams AL, Gander JC. Dexamethasone Suppression Testing in a Contemporary Cohort with Adrenal Incidentalomas in Two U.S. Integrated Healthcare Systems. Biomedicines 2023; 11:3167. [PMID: 38137386 PMCID: PMC10740617 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11123167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Autonomous cortisol secretion (ACS) from an adrenal adenoma can increase the risk for comorbidities and mortality. The dexamethasone suppression test (DST) is the standard method to diagnose ACS. A multi-site, retrospective cohort of adults with diagnosed adrenal tumors was used to understand patient characteristics associated with DST completion and ACS. Time to DST completion was defined using the lab value and result date; follow-up time was from the adrenal adenoma diagnosis to the time of completion or censoring. ACS was defined by a DST > 1.8 µg/dL (50 nmol/L). The Cox proportional hazards regression model assessed associations between DST completion and patient characteristics. In patients completing a DST, a logistic regression model evaluated relationships between elevated ACS and covariates. We included 24,259 adults, with a mean age of 63.1 years, 48.1% obese, and 28.7% with a Charlson comorbidity index ≥ 4. Approximately 7% (n = 1768) completed a DST with a completion rate of 2.36 (95% CI 2.35, 2.37) per 100 person-years. Fully adjusted models reported that male sex and an increased Charlson comorbidity index were associated with a lower likelihood of DST completion. Current or former smoking status and an increased Charlson comorbidity index had higher odds of a DST > 1.8 μg/dL. In conclusion, clinical policies are needed to improve DST completion and the management of adrenal adenomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mackenzie Crawford
- Center for Research and Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Georgia, Atlanta, GA 30305, USA
| | - Bennett McDonald
- Center for Research and Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Georgia, Atlanta, GA 30305, USA
| | - Wansu Chen
- Department of Research and Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, CA 91101, USA
| | - Hina Chowdhry
- Department of Research and Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, CA 91101, USA
| | - Richard Contreras
- Department of Research and Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, CA 91101, USA
| | - Iris Anne C. Reyes
- Department of Research and Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, CA 91101, USA
| | - Eleena Dhakal
- Center for Research and Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Georgia, Atlanta, GA 30305, USA
| | - Tish Villanueva
- Department of Research and Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, CA 91101, USA
| | - Joshua I. Barzilay
- Center for Research and Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Georgia, Atlanta, GA 30305, USA
- Southeastern Permanente Medical Group, Kaiser Permanente Georgia, Atlanta, GA 30305, USA
| | - Candace F. Vaughn
- Southeastern Permanente Medical Group, Kaiser Permanente Georgia, Atlanta, GA 30305, USA
| | | | | | - Annette L. Adams
- Department of Research and Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, CA 91101, USA
| | - Jennifer C. Gander
- Center for Research and Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Georgia, Atlanta, GA 30305, USA
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