Unmet needs on the current medical management of Cushing’s syndrome: results from a Delphi panel of Italian endocrinologists

Abstract

Background Cushing’s syndrome (CS) is a rare clinical condition caused by excessive cortisol secretion from adrenal glands. CS is associated with increased mortality and morbidity; therefore, a prompt diagnosis and an effective therapeutic approach are strongly necessary to improve the patient’s clinical management. The first-line treatment for CS is surgery, while medical treatment has historically played a minor role. However, thanks to the availability of novel compounds, the possibility of improving hypercortisolism control using different drug combinations emerged. Purpose No absolute recommendations are available to guide the therapeutic choice for patients with CS and, consequently, the awareness of unmet needs in CS management is growing. Although new data from clinical trials are needed to better define the most appropriate management of CS, an expert consensus approach can help define unmet needs and optimize the current CS management and treatment. Methods Twenty-seven endocrinologists from 12 Italian regions, working among the main Italian referral centers for hospital endocrinology where they take care of CS patients, were involved in a consensus process and used the Delphi method to reach an agreement on 24 statements about managing CS patients. Results In total, 18 statements reached a consensus. Some relevant unmet needs in the management of CS were reported, mainly related to the lack of a pharmacological treatment successful for the majority of patients. Conclusion While acknowledging the difficulty in achieving complete disease control, a significant change in CS management requires the availability of medical treatment with improved efficacy and safety over available therapeutic options at the time of the current study.