Cushing’s Disease is a rare endocrine disorder that affects the way the body produces and stores its natural hormones. Cushing’s Syndrome is a rare form of Cushing’s Disease. However, this syndrome may be associated with the symptoms of Cushing’s Disease, including high basal cortisol levels and muscle wasting. Cushing’s Disease and Cushing’s Syndrome are exceptionally indistinguishable yet, they are distinguishable.
Cushing’s Disease vs Cushing’s Syndrome
The main difference between Cushing’s Disease and Cushing’s Syndrome is that Cushing’s disease is a hyperfunction of the adrenal glands, which release cortisol in response to signals from the body, whereas Cushing’s syndrome is an endocrine disorder characterized by chronic overproduction of cortisol.
Cushing’s Disease is a hormone imbalance that is most commonly caused by prolonged exposure to too much of the hormone cortisol, which is made in your adrenal glands. The high cortisol levels are usually treated with medications that block the effects of this hormone on the body.
Cushing’s Syndrome is usually caused by a benign tumor in the pituitary gland that secretes ACTH (adrenocorticotrophic hormone), which stimulates the adrenal glands to secrete cortisol. The surgically removed tumor is then examined by endocrinologists to help determine the cause.
Comparison Table Between Cushing’s Disease and Cushing’s Syndrome
| Parameters of Comparison | Cushing’s Disease | Cushing’s Syndrome |
| Definition | Cushing’s Disease is a well-noted disorder that influences the body to produce and stores its natural hormones. | Cushing’s syndrome influences may lie in the action of abnormal hormones or neurological functions within the body. |
| Root | Its root is prolonged exposure to surplus home production of cortisol. | Its root is the production insufficiency or absence of cortisol. |
| Risk Factors | Developing serious conditions such as various types of cancer, diabetes, and osteoporosis. | Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency with chronic pancreatitis and diabetes mellitus. |
| Indication | Severe weight gain, muscle wasting, thinning hair, and fatigue. | Fluid retention, weakness, slow digestion, and poor bone density. |
| Identification | Through physical examination such as MRI scan, urinary test, cortisol, and blood test. | Through physical examination such as eye testing, MRI scan, dynamic testing, and blood test. |
What is Cushing’s Disease?
Cushing’s Disease is a well-noted disorder that influences the body to produce and stores its natural hormones. Moreover, it is a hormone imbalance that is most commonly caused by prolonged exposure to surplus home production of cortisol, which is often manufactured in the glands such as adrenal glands. Moreover, the surplus cortisol hormone levels are usually treated with medications that block the effects of this hormone on the body.
Cushing’s Disease may have a genetic predisposition to higher levels of corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH). The surplus or overabundance production of cortisol can often result in troublesome symptoms and an increased risk of developing serious conditions such as various types of cancer, diabetes, and osteoporosis. Moreover, the insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) can be a reason for producing surplus cortisol.
Cushing’s Disease is due to one of two types of tumors. In the pituitary gland, these tumors are non-cancerous and can be very small or large. These tumors are called pituitary adenomas or adenomas. However, the tumors in the adrenal gland located directly above the kidney are carcinomas. Symptoms of Cushing’s Disease include weight gain, thickening of the skin, eyes, and bones, high blood pressure, and glucose intolerance.
What is Cushing’s Syndrome?
Cushing’s Syndrome is found that the syndrome takes place lower in women than men. It is also possible to experience troublesome and annoying aftereffects like hair loss, weakness, and weight gain. The cause of the disorder may lie in the action of abnormal hormones or neurological functions within the body.
In Cushing’s Syndrome, there is no suppression of basal cortisol levels as in Cushing’s Disease. One of these factors is a history of long-term steroid or anti-inflammatory administration. An MRI scan of the pituitary gland can sometimes show tumor enlargement or other abnormalities that may indicate positive results.
Cushing’s Syndrome can be effortlessly spotted by physically examining. Eye signs are early development of cataracts or glaucoma, seborrheic dermatitis, hoarseness, and hypertension. Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency with chronic pancreatitis may be found, with poor appetite, weight loss, and diabetes mellitus. A complete blood count with elevated white blood cells is also associated with Cushing’s syndrome.
Main Differences Between Cushing’s Disease and Cushing’s Syndrome
Cushing’s Disease is a well-noted disorder that influences the body to produce and stores its natural hormones, whereas Cushing’s syndrome influences may lie in the action of abnormal hormones or neurological functions within the body.
Cushing’s Disease root is prolonged exposure to surplus home production of cortisol, whereas Cushing’s syndrome root is the production insufficiency or absence in cortisol.
Cushing’s Disease develops serious conditions such as various types of cancer, diabetes, and osteoporosis, whereas Cushing’s syndrome develops pancreatic exocrine insufficiency with chronic pancreatitis and diabetes mellitus.
Cushing’s Disease indicators include severe weight gain, muscle wasting, thinning hair, and fatigue, whereas Cushing’s syndrome indicators include fluid retention, weakness, slow digestion, and poor bone density.
Cushing’s Disease Identification through physical examination such as MRI scan, urinary test, cortisol, and blood test, whereas Cushing’s syndrome Identification through physical examination such as eye testing, MRI scan, dynamic testing, and blood test.
Conclusion
Cushing’s Disease releases cortisol in response to signals from the body, where these hormones stimulate adrenal glands to produce cortisol. However, it is believed that there might be an environmental trigger such as exposure to toxins, infection, or trauma for some people that causes the pituitary gland to produce more of this hormone. If someone has Cushing’s Disease, then their body produces too much cortisol, and it can be treated with medications and surgery.
Cushing’s syndrome influences may lie in the action of abnormal hormones or neurological functions within the body. It is also possible to experience hair loss, weakness, and weight gain. In some cases, the syndrome may be associated with the symptoms of Cushing’s Disease, including high basal cortisol levels and muscle wasting.
References
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1521690X09000700
- https://academic.oup.com/edrv/article-abstract/36/4/385/2354703
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11102-014-0569-6