Spontaneous hypercortisolism without Cushing's syndrome.

A very high cortisol production rate (CPR) with elevated plasma ACTH was found in a hypertensive, hypokalemic, but otherwise healthy male patient. There were no symptoms or signs of Cushing's syndrome. The hypercortisolism appeared to be of the pituitary dependent type. During the follow-up of 36 months, no changes in outward appearance occurred, notwithstanding persistent hypercortisolism. The possibility of either Conn's syndrome or of an enzymatic defect in steroidogenesis could be ruled out. One of the three children (a healthy boy of 20 years) also showed hypertension and hypercortisolism. A possibly genetically determined hyposensitivity to the glucocorticoid action of cortisol is postulated.