MECHANISMS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY Cushing's syndrome causes irreversible effects on the human brain: a systematic review of structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging studies

• Background: Cushing's syndrome (CS) is characterized by excessive exposure to cortisol, and is associated with both metabolic and behavioral abnormalities. Symptoms improve substantially after biochemical cure, but may persist during long-term remission. The causes for persistent morbidity are probably multi-factorial, including a profound effect of cortisol excess on the brain, a major target area for glucocorticoids. Objective: To review publications evaluating brain characteristics in patients with CS using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods: Systematic review of literature published in PubMed, Embase, Web of Knowledge, and Cochrane databases. Results: Nineteen studies using MRI in patients with CS were selected, including studies in patients with active disease, patients in long-term remission, and longitudinal studies, covering a total of 339 unique patients. Patients with active disease showed smaller hippocampal volumes, enlarged ventricles, and cerebral atrophy as well as alterations in neurochemical concentrations and functional activity. After abrogation of cortisol excess, the reversibility of structural and neurochemical alterations was incomplete after long-term remission. MRI findings were related to clinical characteristics (i.e., cortisol levels, duration of exposure to hypercortisolism, current age, age at diagnosis, and triglyceride levels) and behavioral outcome (i.e., cognitive and emotional functioning, mood, and quality of life). Conclusion: Patients with active CS demonstrate brain abnormalities, which only partly recover after biochemical cure, because these still occur even after long-term remission. CS might be considered as a human model of nature that provides a keyhole perspective of the neurotoxic effects of exogenous glucocorticoids on the brain.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

HIPPOCAMPAL-FORMATION VOLUME

LONG-TERM REMISSION

QUALITY-OF-LIFE

CORTICOSTEROID-THERAPY

METABOLIC ALTERATIONS

CINGULATE CORTEX

CEREBRAL ATROPHY

DECISION-MAKING

CHRONIC STRESS

DISEASE

Endocrinology & Metabolism

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)