BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is a frequent, severe and often underestimated consequence of long-term hypercortisolism, often presenting as bone fracture. OBJECTIVE: This prospective study was designed to evaluate whether the abnormalities of bone mass and turnover can be similarly reversed in adolescent and adult patients with Cushing's disease, after correction of hypercortisolism. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Bone mineral density (BMD) at lumbar spine, serum osteocalcin (OC) and urinary cross-linked N-telopeptides of type I collagen (Ntx) levels were measured at diagnosis and 2 years after cure of Cushing's disease (CD) in six patients with childhood-onset and nine with adulthood-onset disease. Fifteen age-, sex- and body mass index (BMI)-matched healthy subjects served as controls. RESULTS: At diagnosis, BMD Z scores at lumbar spine and OC levels were lower (2.3 +/- 0.1 vs.-0.2 +/- 0.01; P < 0.01 and 1.6 +/- 0.1 vs. 9.6 +/- 1.2; P < 0.01 respectively) while urinary Ntx levels were significantly higher (139.9 +/- 6.1 vs. 82.0 +/- 1.6; P < 0.01) in CD patients than in controls. Among CD patients, similar values of Z scores (-2.4 +/- 0.3 vs.-2.2 +/- 0.1, P = 0.4) and OC levels (1.7 +/- 0.2 vs. 1.6 +/- 0.2, P = 0.6) were observed in adolescent and adults patients, whereas urinary Ntx levels were significantly higher (159.7 +/- 7.9 vs. 125.9 +/- 3.3, P < 0.001) in the former than in the latter group. Two years after remission from hypercortisolism, OC levels (P < 0.001) and lumbar BMD Z scores (-2.2 +/- 0.3, P < 0.05; and -1.9 +/- 0.2; P < 0.01, respectively) increased significantly, while urinary Ntx levels reduced significantly (P < 0.001) in both adolescent and adult patients. However, biochemical markers and Z scores of BMD remained significantly suppressed compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS: Bone impairment in childhood- and adulthood-onset Cushing's disease patients can be partly, but not completely, reversed 2 years after normalization of cortisol levels. Longer recovery times or additive therapeutic approaches are necessary to maximize peak bone mass in children and restore bone mass in adults with Cushing's disease.
BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is a frequent, severe and often underestimated consequence of long-term hypercortisolism, often presenting as bone fracture. OBJECTIVE: This prospective study was designed to evaluate whether the abnormalities of bone mass and turnover can be similarly reversed in adolescent and adult patients with Cushing's disease, after correction of hypercortisolism. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Bone mineral density (BMD) at lumbar spine, serum osteocalcin (OC) and urinary cross-linked N-telopeptides of type I collagen (Ntx) levels were measured at diagnosis and 2 years after cure of Cushing's disease (CD) in six patients with childhood-onset and nine with adulthood-onset disease. Fifteen age-, sex- and body mass index (BMI)-matched healthy subjects served as controls. RESULTS: At diagnosis, BMD Z scores at lumbar spine and OC levels were lower (2.3 +/- 0.1 vs.-0.2 +/- 0.01; P < 0.01 and 1.6 +/- 0.1 vs. 9.6 +/- 1.2; P < 0.01 respectively) while urinary Ntx levels were significantly higher (139.9 +/- 6.1 vs. 82.0 +/- 1.6; P < 0.01) in CDpatients than in controls. Among CDpatients, similar values of Z scores (-2.4 +/- 0.3 vs.-2.2 +/- 0.1, P = 0.4) and OC levels (1.7 +/- 0.2 vs. 1.6 +/- 0.2, P = 0.6) were observed in adolescent and adults patients, whereas urinary Ntx levels were significantly higher (159.7 +/- 7.9 vs. 125.9 +/- 3.3, P < 0.001) in the former than in the latter group. Two years after remission from hypercortisolism, OC levels (P < 0.001) and lumbar BMD Z scores (-2.2 +/- 0.3, P < 0.05; and -1.9 +/- 0.2; P < 0.01, respectively) increased significantly, while urinary Ntx levels reduced significantly (P < 0.001) in both adolescent and adult patients. However, biochemical markers and Z scores of BMD remained significantly suppressed compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS: Bone impairment in childhood- and adulthood-onset Cushing's diseasepatients can be partly, but not completely, reversed 2 years after normalization of cortisol levels. Longer recovery times or additive therapeutic approaches are necessary to maximize peak bone mass in children and restore bone mass in adults with Cushing's disease.
Authors: L Tauchmanovà; C Selleri; M Esposito; C Di Somma; F Orio; G Bifulco; S Palomba; G Lombardi; B Rotoli; A Colao Journal: Osteoporos Int Date: 2003-09-30 Impact factor: 4.507
Authors: S Scommegna; J P Greening; H L Storr; K M Davies; N J Shaw; J P Monson; A B Grossman; M O Savage Journal: J Endocrinol Invest Date: 2005-03 Impact factor: 4.256
Authors: A Szappanos; J Toke; D Lippai; A Patócs; P Igaz; N Szücs; L Füto; E Gláz; K Rácz; M Tóth Journal: Osteoporos Int Date: 2009-06-10 Impact factor: 4.507
Authors: Sarah K Thompson; Amanda V Hayman; William H Ludlam; Clifford W Deveney; D Lynn Loriaux; Brett C Sheppard Journal: Ann Surg Date: 2007-05 Impact factor: 12.969
Authors: Lynnette K Nieman; Beverly M K Biller; James W Findling; M Hassan Murad; John Newell-Price; Martin O Savage; Antoine Tabarin Journal: J Clin Endocrinol Metab Date: 2015-07-29 Impact factor: 5.958