RESUMEN
Factitious Cushing's syndrome is exceptionally rare. The diagnosis is challenging due to the interference of exogenous corticosteroids with cortisol immunoassays. We present a case of a 26 year old female that presented with clinical and biochemical features of Cushing's syndrome. She denied any exogenous corticosteroid use. She had a suppressed ACTH level with normal adrenal glands on CT scans. There was a paradoxical increase of cortisol with a 100% rise in 24 h urinary free cortisol (UFC) during the Liddle's test suggestive of primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease (PPNAD). However, basal UFC levels were within normal values, interpreted as an intermittent variation of cortisol secretion maybe due to cyclic Cushing's. At this point a synthetic glucocorticoid serum screening was ordered, which was denied by the administrators because the test was not available in our hospital. A positron emission tomography (PET)-CT using 18 F-Flurodeoxyglucose did not show any uptake in the adrenal glands. With the diagnosis of probable primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease a unilateral right adrenelectomy was performed. Histopathological examination revealed normal adrenal gland. A synthetic glucocorticoid serum screen by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) sent to Mayo Clinic lab revealed high levels of serum prednisone and prednisolone. In conclusion, factitious Cushing's syndrome is an important diagnosis to consider in patients being evaluated for hypercortisolism. Discordant hormonal test results as well as normal findings on adrenal glands on CT scan should raise suspicion of this entity, and prompt measurement of synthetic corticosteroids using LC-MS/MS.
RESUMEN
Resumen Introducción: La prevalencia de depresion y ansiedad en usuarios internados en hospitales generales es muy alta, esto se asocia a mayor morbimortalidad y mayores costos en salud. El apoyo emocional resulta fundamental en todo proceso de recuperación. Método: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo y analítico sobre depresión y su vinculación con el apoyo social, estancia hospitalaria y enfermedad médica en pacientes internados en el Hospital de Clínicas Dr. Manuel Quíntela Montevideo, Uruguay. Se les aplicó el test de Beck para depresión y la escala validada para soporte social Medical Outcomes Study (MOS). Se describieron características de la población estudiada. Resultados: Más de la mitad de los entrevistados presentaban algún grado de depesión. Fue posible afirmar que 73,7% de los usuarios con apoyo social escaso presentó síntomas depresivos con un aumento de la depresión sobre todo de tipo moderada y leve. Hubo una mayor incidencia de depresión en pacientes con estancia hospitalaria prolongada, sin embargo, este dato no fue estadísticamente significativo. En cuanto a la patología médica destacamos la fuerte presencia de depresión en los pacientes oncológicos cardiovasculares y quirúrgicos.
Introduction: The prevalence of depression and anxiety in pacients hospitalized in general hospitals is very high, this is associated with increased morbidity and mortality and higher health costs. Emotional support is essential in any recovery process. Method: A descriptive and analytical study was carried out on depression and its relationship with social support, hospital stay and medical illness in patients admitted to the Dr. Manuel Quintela Clinical Hospital Montevideo - Uruguay. The Beck test for depression and the scale validated for social support Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) were applied. Characteristics of the studied population were described. Results: More than half of the interviewees presented some degree of depesión. It was possible to affirm that 73.7% of the users with scarce social support presented depressive symptoms with an increase in depression, especially of moderate and mild type. There was a higher incidence of depression in patients with prolonged hospital stay, however this data was not statistically significant. Regarding medical pathology, we highlight the strong presence of depression in cardiovascular and surgical oncology patients.