An 81-year-old woman was hospitalised for behavioural disorders that had been progressively emerging over a period of few weeks. The symptoms appeared to worsen over time. A diagnosis of vascular dementia, complicated by psychosis, was initially hypothesised. The inefficacy of the antipsychotic/benzodiazepine medications used, along with the presence of hypertension, hypokalaemia and metabolic alkalosis (resistant to pharmacological attempts of correction), as well as the hirsutism and the development of several infections, led us to consider Cushing’s syndrome. Endocrinological analysis suggested ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secretion. Although endogenous Cushing’s syndrome is rare in older people, it should always be considered among the differential diagnosis of behavioural disorders.

Behaviour disorder caused by Cushing's syndrome in an older person / S. Damanti, C. Abbate, I. Chiodini, M. Cesari, T. Nestola, G. Belloni, C. Mandelli, D. Mari, T. Lucchi. - In: AGE AND AGEING. - ISSN 0002-0729. - (2018 Jul 10). [Epub ahead of print] [10.1093/ageing/afy102]

Behaviour disorder caused by Cushing's syndrome in an older person

S. Damanti
Primo
;
C. Abbate
Secondo
;
I. Chiodini;M. Cesari;T. Nestola;G. Belloni;C. Mandelli;D. Mari
Penultimo
;
2018

Abstract

An 81-year-old woman was hospitalised for behavioural disorders that had been progressively emerging over a period of few weeks. The symptoms appeared to worsen over time. A diagnosis of vascular dementia, complicated by psychosis, was initially hypothesised. The inefficacy of the antipsychotic/benzodiazepine medications used, along with the presence of hypertension, hypokalaemia and metabolic alkalosis (resistant to pharmacological attempts of correction), as well as the hirsutism and the development of several infections, led us to consider Cushing’s syndrome. Endocrinological analysis suggested ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secretion. Although endogenous Cushing’s syndrome is rare in older people, it should always be considered among the differential diagnosis of behavioural disorders.
cushing syndrome; older people; ectopic, Behavioural disorders
Settore MED/13 - Endocrinologia
Settore MED/25 - Psichiatria
Settore MED/09 - Medicina Interna
10-lug-2018
10-lug-2018
Article (author)
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/582035
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