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Objective: The European Registry on Cushing's syndrome (ERCUSYN) is designed to collect prospective and follow-up data at EU level on Cushing's syndrome (CS). Design and methods: Baseline data on 481 CS patients (390 females, 91 males; mean age (GS.D.): 44 G14 years) collected from 36 centres in 23 countries, including new patients from 2008 and retrospective cases since 2000. Patients were divided into four major aetiologic groups: pituitarydependent CS (PIT-CS) (66%), adrenal-dependent CS (ADR-CS) (27%), CS from an ectopic source (ECT-CS) (5%) and CS from other aetiologies (2%). Results: Proportion of men in the ECT-CS group was higher than in the other groups (P!0.05). The ADR-CS group was older than the PIT-CS (P!0.05). Prevalence of hirsutism (92%) and diabetes (74%) in ECT-CS was higher than in the other groups (P!0.05 and P!0.01 respectively). PIT-CS had more skin alterations, menstrual irregularities and hirsutism than ADR-CS (P!0.01). Reduced libido was more prevalent in men than women (P!0.01). Prevalence of spine osteoporosis was higher in men than women (P!0.05), and males had more vertebral and rib fractures than females (52 vs 18% for vertebrae; P!0.001 and 34 vs 23% for ribs; P!0.05). ECT-CS consulted a diabetologist more frequently than ADR-CS (P!0.05), while a gynaecologist was consulted more often by women with PIT-CS or ADR-CS than with ECT-CS (P!0.05). Overall, weight gain was more common in women than men (P!0.01). CushingQoL and EuroQoL visual analogue scale scores did not differ between the groups. Conclusions: The ERCUSYN project demonstrates a heterogeneous clinical presentation of CS at a European level, depending on gender and aetiology.

Insulin resistance is associated with low testosterone (T) levels in men, the mechanism of which is unclear. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in men with a spectrum of insulin sensitivity. Twenty-one men (aged 25-65 yr) had a glucose tolerance test and assessment of insulin sensitivity using a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp. Insulin sensitivity, expressed as the M value (milligrams per kilograms(-1) per minute(-1)), was calculated from the glucose disposal rate during the final 30 min of the clamp. Eighteen subjects had blood sampling every 10 min for 12 h to assess LH pulsatility. Hypogonadism was then induced with a GnRH antagonist, followed by sequential stimulation testing with GnRH (750 ng/kg, iv) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG; 1000 IU, im) to assess pituitary and testicular responsiveness, respectively. Nine subjects had normal glucose tolerance, nine had impaired glucose tolerance, and three had diabetes mellitus. There was a positive relationship between M and T levels (r = 0.46; P < 0.05). No relationship was seen between M and parameters of LH secretion, including mean LH levels, LH pulse amplitude, LH pulse frequency, and LH response to exogenous GnRH administration. In contrast, a strong correlation was observed between M and the T response to hCG (r = 0.73; P < 0.005). Baseline T levels correlated with the increase in T after hCG administration (r = 0.47; P < 0.05). During the clamp, T levels increased from a baseline level of 367 +/- 30 to 419 +/- 38 ng/dl during the last 30 min (P < 0.05). From these data we conclude that insulin resistance is associated with a decrease in Leydig cell T secretion in men. Additional studies are required to determine the mechanism of this effect.

Pregnancy in Cushing's syndrome (CS) is extremely rare due to the influence of hypercortisolism on the reproductive axis. Purpose of this study is to investigate whether the etiology of CS in pregnancy determines a different impact on the fetal/newborn and maternal outcomes. We performed a systematic review of cases published in the literature from January 1952 to April 2015 including the words "Cushing AND pregnancy". We included 168 manuscripts containing 220 patients and 263 pregnancies with active CS during pregnancy and with a history of CS but treated and cured hypercortisolism at the time of gestation. Adrenal adenoma was the main cause of active CS during pregnancy (44.1 %). Women with active CS had more gestational diabetes mellitus (36.9 vs. 2.3 %, p = 0.003), gestational hypertension (40.5 vs. 2.3 %, p < 0.001) and preeclampsia (26.3 vs. 2.3 %, p = 0.001) than those with cured disease. The proportion of fetal loss in active CS was higher than in cured CS (23.6 vs. 8.5 %, p = 0.021), as well as global fetal morbidity (33.3 vs. 4.9 %, p < 0.001). The predictors of fetal loss in active CS were etiology of hypercortisolism [Odds Ratio -OR-for pregnancy-induced CS 4.7 (95 % Confidence Interval-CI 1.16-18.96), p = 0.03], publication period [OR for "1975-1994" 0.10 (95 % CI 0.03-0.40), p = 0.001] and treatment during gestation (p = 0.037, [OR medical treatment 0.25 (95 % CI 0.06-1.02), p = 0.052], [OR surgical treatment 0.34 (95 % CI 0.11-1.06), p = 0.063]). The period of diagnosis of CS (before, during or after pregnancy) was the only predictor of overall fetal morbimortality [OR for diagnosis during pregnancy 4.66 (95 % CI 1.37-15.83), p = 0.014]. Patients with active CS, especially in pregnancy-induced CS, experienced more problems in pregnancy and had the worst fetal prognosis in comparison to other causes. Diagnosis of CS during pregnancy was also associated with worse overall fetal morbimortality. Both medical treatment and surgery during pregnancy appeared to be protective in avoiding fetal loss.

Hormonal assessment in the immediate postoperative period after TSS for CD may be misleading because delayed remission can occur in a subset of patients. Expectant management and retesting may spare some patients from unnecessary further treatment. Optimal timing to determine the need for further therapy after TSS remains to be determined.

Objective To evaluate the outcome of preoperative therapy with ketoconazole (KTZ) and/or metyrapone (MTP) in previously untreated patients with Cushing's syndrome (CS). Design and patients Sixty-two patients with CS (85% ACTH dependent), treated with steroidogenesis inhibitors prior to surgery between 1983 and 2010, were retrospectively studied. T 0 and t 1 defined baseline and end of preoperative medical treatment. Results Outcomes were based upon clinical and biochemical (normal UFC) control of hypercortisolism at t 1 : group CO (controlled) included 20 patients (32%) with eucortisolism and significant clinical improvement; group NC (not controlled) 30 (48%) with persistent hypercortisolism and no control of symptoms; and group PC (partially controlled) 12 patients (19%) who despite eucortisolism had no real clinical improvement. Median duration of treatment was 4 months (range: 1-30·7), and median cumulative dose of KTZ and MTP was 57 g (range: 3·6-240) and 120 g (range: 7·5-1215). CO patients were treated more with KTZ alone than the other groups (P < 0·05). MTP alone was administered more in PC than in CO patients (P < 0·01). No clinical differences were observed between groups at baseline. Systolic blood pressure at t 1 was higher in PC than in NC patients (P < 0·05). Hypertension persisted more in PC patients than in the other groups (P < 0·05) after a median postsurgery follow-up of 108 months (range: 4-276). Conclusions Preoperative administration of KTZ, MTP or both normalized UFC in 52% of patients with CS, but concomitant clinical improvement did not always follow. Larger, multicentre studies are needed to individualize preoperative medical treatment and improve outcome in patients with CS.

Summary Objective Hypercortisolism in Cushing's syndrome (CS) is associated with impaired health‐related quality of life (HRQoL), which may persist despite remission. We used the data entered into the European Registry on Cushing's syndrome (ERCUSYN) to evaluate if patients with CS of pituitary origin (PIT‐CS) have worse HRQoL, both before and after treatment than patients with adrenal causes (ADR‐CS). Methods Data from 595 patients (492 women; 83%) who completed the CushingQoL and/or EQ‐5D questionnaires at baseline and/or following treatment were analysed. Results At baseline, HRQoL did not differ between PIT‐CS (n = 293) and ADR‐CS (n = 120) on both EuroQoL and CushingQoL. Total CushingQoL score in PIT‐CS and ADR‐CS was 41 ± 18 and 44 ± 20, respectively (P = .7). At long‐time follow‐up (>1 year after treatment) total CushingQoL score was however lower in PIT‐CS than ADR‐CS (56 ± 20 vs 62 ± 23; P = .045). In a regression analysis, after adjustment for baseline age, gender, remission status, duration of active CS, glucocorticoid dependency and follow‐up time, no association was observed between aetiology and HRQoL. Remission was associated with better total CushingQoL score (P < .001), and older age at diagnosis with worse total score (P = .01). Depression at diagnosis was associated with worse total CushingQoL score at the last follow‐up (P < .001). Conclusion PIT‐CS patients had poorer HRQoL than ADR‐CS at long‐term follow‐up, despite similar baseline scoring. After adjusting for remission status, no interaetiology differences in HRQoL scoring were found. Age and presence of depression at diagnosis of CS may be potential predictors of worse HRQoL regardless of CS aetiology.