Iscenko Cushing's Syndrome: Symptoms and Methods of Treatment

For the first time such a disease as the Itenko-Cushing syndrome, was described back in 1924. The discoverer was the neuropathologist of the Soviet Union Nikolai Itzenko. He said that the cause of the syndrome lies in the violation of the work of a specific area of the brain in the nervous and endocrine system, called the hypothalamus. Then, research was conducted in Amrek, where the scientist Cushing expressed the view that the failure of the brain is due to a tumor of the pituitary gland. Modern surveys have shown the truthfulness of the conclusions of both Itsenko and Cushing, so the disease was given the name "Syndrome Itenko-Cushing."

Typically, this disease occurs due to the release of the hormone corticosteroid, which secretes the adrenal gland. As practice has shown, it is diagnosed after detection of a tumor of the adrenal gland or other internal organs, for example, the liver, bronchi or pancreas. The risk group, as a rule, includes a female half of the population in the age group from 25 to 40 years. This is explained by the fact that the pituitary tumor (the main cause of the syndrome) occurs more often in women than in men 5-fold. But there are cases of the emergence of this syndrome in children and in the elderly.

It is dangerous to use a large number of steroids, especially if they are used for a sufficiently long period of time, since this hormone can activate the Itenko-Cushing syndrome. Also, any type of internal tumor that affects the production of the hormone cortisol is dangerous. Very rarely, the disease can arise because of a hereditary predisposition.

This disease is very serious and even dangerous for human life, but thanks to modern technologies it is quite possible to defeat it. The process of treatment and recovery will take a long time, maybe even several years. And if you ignore it and refuse treatment, death can come from both banal pressure increase or infection, and serious cardiovascular disease.

Syndrome Itenko-Cushing: symptoms.

The most striking symptomatic manifestation of the disease is a sharp increase in body weight, mainly in the chest, face and stomach. This consequence is caused by the prevalence of cortisol in the body, and this hormone is known to contribute to the deposition of fats. And the human body becomes absolutely disproportionate, that is, hands and feet against the background of the abdomen and chest seem quite thin. In addition, there appears a hump characteristic for the cushing syndrome, as the fat folds on the neck and shoulders occur. The face of the patient is markedly rounded, in some cases the skin reddens.

Cortisol destroys the skin protein and thinens the vessels, which leads to the appearance of spots and stretch marks on the body, because the skin becomes susceptible to the influence of external factors. Because of the increased weight and poor excretion of fluid from the body in patients there is a strong swelling of the legs. Naturally, dyspnea appears, the rhythm of heartbeat increases, and all this is accompanied by profuse sweating. A woman who suffers from this syndrome may notice an increase in the hairline on her face, and any abrasion or cut may be a real problem, as it heals for a long time.

It should be remembered that the disease is reflected directly on the hardness of bone tissue and muscle activity. Because of the action of the hormone cortisol, the patient feels weakness throughout the body, there is rapid overtraining.

Syndrome Itenko-Cushing: treatment.

Modern specialists choose a specific method of treatment for each stage of the disease development. The Itenko-Cushing syndrome can be overcome either with the help of medications, radiotherapy, surgical intervention, or complete removal of the internal organ, more often the adrenal gland.