Pseudo-Cushing Syndrome Treatment & Management

  • Author: David M Klachko, MD, MEd; Chief Editor: George T Griffing, MD   more...
 
Updated: Jan 3, 2012
 

Medical Care

  • Appropriate medical care depends on the reason the patient sought help.
  • Anticipate and prevent alcohol withdrawal syndrome. With abstinence from alcohol, biochemical abnormalities usually resolve within days or weeks.
  • Treat depression.
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Consultations

Consult endocrinologists for patients with features of florid Cushing syndrome. Consult psychiatrists for treatment of depression or alcohol abuse.

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Diet

Most patients with chronic alcoholism have varying degrees of malnutrition.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

David M Klachko, MD, MEd  Professor Emeritus, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine

David M Klachko, MD, MEd is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, American Diabetes Association, American Federation for Medical Research, Endocrine Society, Missouri State Medical Association, and Sigma Xi

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Steven R Gambert, MD  Professor of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Director of Geriatric Medicine, University of Maryland Medical Center and R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center

Steven R Gambert, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Physician Executives, American College of Physicians, American Geriatrics Society, Association of Professors of Medicine, Endocrine Society, and Gerontological Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Yoram Shenker, MD  Chief of Endocrinology Section, Veterans Affairs Medical Center of Madison; Interim Chief, Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University of Wisconsin at Madison

Yoram Shenker, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Heart Association, Central Society for Clinical Research, and Endocrine Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Mark Cooper, MBBS, PhD, FRACP  Head, Diabetes & Metabolism Division, Baker Heart Research Institute, Professor of Medicine, Monash University

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

George T Griffing, MD  Professor of Medicine, St Louis University School of Medicine

George T Griffing, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American College of Medical Practice Executives, American College of Physician Executives, American College of Physicians, American Diabetes Association, American Federation for Medical Research, American Heart Association, Central Society for Clinical Research, Endocrine Society, International Society for Clinical Densitometry, and Southern Society for Clinical Investigation

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References
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  17. Papanicolaou DA, Yanovski JA, Cutler GB Jr. A single midnight serum cortisol measurement distinguishes Cushing's syndrome from pseudo-Cushing states. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. Apr 1998;83(4):1163-7. [Medline].

  18. Somer L, Matavulj M, Hadzic B. [The hypophyseal-adrenal axis in chronic alcoholism]. Medicinski Pregled. 1996;49:349-355.

  19. Vogeser M. Durner J. Seliger E. Auernhammer C. Measurement of late-night salivary cortisol with an automated immunoassay system. Clinical Chemistry & Laboratory Medicine. 2006;44(12):1441-5. [Medline].

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