Diagnostic Pitfalls in Cushing Disease: Surgical Remission Rates, Test Thresholds, and Lessons Learned in 105 Patients.

CONTEXT: Confirming a diagnosis of Cushing disease (CD) remains challenging, yet is critically important before recommending transsphenoidal surgery for adenoma resection. OBJECTIVE: To describe predictive performance of preoperative biochemical and imaging data relative to post-operative remission and clinical characteristics in patients with presumed CD. DESIGN, SETTING, PATIENTS, INTERVENTIONS: Patients (n = 105; 86% female) who underwent surgery from 2007 through 2020 were classified into 3 groups: group A (n = 84) pathology-proven ACTH adenoma; group B (n = 6) pathology-unproven but with postoperative hypocortisolemia consistent with CD; and group C (n = 15) pathology-unproven, without postoperative hypocortisolemia. Group A + B were combined as confirmed CD and group C as unconfirmed CD. MAIN OUTCOMES: Group A + B was compared with group C regarding predictive performance of preoperative 24-hour urinary free cortisol (UFC), late night salivary cortisol (LNSC), 1-mg dexamethasone suppression test (DST), plasma ACTH, and pituitary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). RESULTS: All groups had a similar clinical phenotype. Compared with group C, group A + B had higher mean UFC (P < 0.001), LNSC (P = 0.003), DST (P = 0.06), and ACTH (P = 0.03) and larger MRI-defined lesions (P < 0.001). The highest accuracy thresholds were: UFC 72 µg/24 hours; LNSC 0.122 µg/dL, DST 2.70 µg/dL, and ACTH 39.1 pg/mL. Early (3-month) biochemical remission was achieved in 76/105 (72%) patients: 76/90(84%) and 0/15(0%) of group A + B vs group C, respectively, P < 0.0001. In group A + B, nonremission was strongly associated with adenoma cavernous sinus invasion. CONCLUSIONS: Use of strict biochemical thresholds may help avoid offering transsphenoidal surgery to presumed CD patients with equivocal data and improve surgical remission rates. Patients with Cushingoid phenotype but equivocal biochemical data warrant additional rigorous testing.

Assessment of Vitamin D Metabolism in Patients with Cushing's Disease in Response to 150,000 IU Cholecalciferol Treatment.

In this study we aimed to assess vitamin D metabolism in patients with Cushing's disease (CD) compared to healthy individuals in the setting of bolus cholecalciferol treatment. The study group included 30 adults with active CD and the control group included 30 apparently healthy adults with similar age, sex and BMI. All participants received a single dose (150,000 IU) of cholecalciferol aqueous solution orally. Laboratory assessments including serum vitamin D metabolites (25(OH)D3, 25(OH)D2, 1,25(OH)2D3, 3-epi-25(OH)D3 and 24,25(OH)2D3), free 25(OH)D, vitamin D-binding protein (DBP) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) as well as serum and urine biochemical parameters were performed before the intake and on Days 1, 3 and 7 after the administration. All data were analyzed with non-parametric statistics. Patients with CD had similar to healthy controls 25(OH)D3 levels (p > 0.05) and higher 25(OH)D3/24,25(OH)2D3 ratios (p < 0.05) throughout the study. They also had lower baseline free 25(OH)D levels (p < 0.05) despite similar DBP levels (p > 0.05) and lower albumin levels (p < 0.05); 24-h urinary free cortisol showed significant correlation with baseline 25(OH)D3/24,25(OH)2D3 ratio (r = 0.36, p < 0.05). The increase in 25(OH)D3 after cholecalciferol intake was similar in obese and non-obese states and lacked correlation with BMI (p > 0.05) among patients with CD, as opposed to the control group. Overall, patients with CD have a consistently higher 25(OH)D3/24,25(OH)2D3 ratio, which is indicative of a decrease in 24-hydroxylase activity. This altered activity of the principal vitamin D catabolism might influence the effectiveness of cholecalciferol treatment. The observed difference in baseline free 25(OH)D levels is not entirely clear and requires further study.

Use of late-night salivary cortisol to monitor response to medical treatment in Cushing's disease.

OBJECTIVE: Monitoring of patients with Cushing's disease on cortisol-lowering drugs is usually performed with urinary free cortisol (UFC). Late-night salivary cortisol (LNSC) has an established role in screening for hypercortisolism and can help to detect the loss of cortisol circadian rhythm. Less evidence exists regarding the usefulness of LNSC in monitoring pharmacological response in Cushing's disease. DESIGN: Exploratory analysis evaluating LNSC during a Phase III study of long-acting pasireotide in Cushing's disease (clinicaltrials.gov: NCT01374906). METHODS: Mean LNSC (mLNSC) was calculated from two samples, collected on the same days as the first two of three 24-h urine samples (used to calculate mean UFC [mUFC]). Clinical signs of hypercortisolism were evaluated over time. RESULTS: At baseline, 137 patients had evaluable mLNSC measurements; 91.2% had mLNSC exceeding the upper limit of normal (ULN; 3.2 nmol/L). Of patients with evaluable assessments at month 12 (n = 92), 17.4% had both mLNSC ≤ULN and mUFC ≤ULN; 22.8% had mLNSC ≤ULN, and 45.7% had mUFC ≤ULN. There was high variability in LNSC (intra-patient coefficient of variation (CV): 49.4%) and UFC (intra-patient CV: 39.2%). mLNSC levels decreased over 12 months of treatment and paralleled changes in mUFC. Moderate correlation was seen between mLNSC and mUFC (Spearman's correlation: ρ = 0.50 [all time points pooled]). Greater improvements in systolic/diastolic blood pressure and weight were seen in patients with both mLNSC ≤ULN and mUFC ≤ULN. CONCLUSION: mUFC and mLNSC are complementary measurements for monitoring treatment response in Cushing's disease, with better clinical outcomes seen for patients in whom both mUFC and mLNSC are controlled.

Long-term efficacy and safety of once-monthly pasireotide in Cushing's disease: A Phase III extension study.

OBJECTIVES: Many patients with Cushing's disease (CD) require chronic pharmacotherapy to control their hypercortisolism. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of long-acting pasireotide during a long-term extension study in patients with CD. DESIGN: Open-label extension to a 12-month Phase III study of long-acting pasireotide in CD (N = 150; NCT01374906). PATIENTS: Patients with mean urinary free cortisol (mUFC) ≤ upper limit of normal (ULN) or receiving clinical benefit at core study end could continue long-acting pasireotide during the extension. RESULTS: Eighty-one of 150 (54.0%) enrolled patients entered the extension. Median overall exposure to pasireotide at study end was 23.9 months; 39/81 (48.1%) patients completed the extension (received ≥ 12 months' treatment during the extension and could transit to a separate pasireotide safety study). mUFC was ≤ULN in 42/81 (51.9%), 13/81 (16.0%) and 43/81 (53.1%) patients at extension baseline, month (M) 36 and last assessment. Median mUFC remained within normal limits. Median late-night salivary cortisol was 2.6 × ULN at core baseline and 1.3 × ULN at M36. Clinical improvements were sustained over time. Forty-two (51.9%) patients discontinued during the extension: 25 (30.9%) before M24 and 17 (21.0%) after M24. Hyperglycaemia-related AEs occurred in 39.5% of patients. Mean fasting glucose (FPG) and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c ) were stable during the extension, with antidiabetic medication initiated/escalated in some patients. Sixty-six (81.5%) and 71 (88.9%) patients were classified as having diabetes (HbA1c  ≥ 6.5%, FPG ≥ 7.0 mmol/L, antidiabetic medication use, or history of diabetes) at extension baseline and last assessment. CONCLUSIONS: Long-acting pasireotide provided sustained biochemical and clinical improvements, with no new safety signals emerging, supporting its use as an effective long-term therapy for CD.

Clinical score system in the treatment of Cushing's disease: failure to identify discriminative variables from the German Cushing's Registry.

PURPOSE: To develop a multidimensional and integrated clinical scoring instrument, that encompasses, summarizes and weights appropriately the desired clinical benefits of a treatment for Cushing's disease (CD). METHODS: A panel of 42 variables potentially relevant to the clinical course of CD was predefined by endocrinology experts taking into account relevant literature. Variables as well as biochemical disease activity assessed as urinary free cortisol (UFC) levels were evaluated at baseline and at least after 12 months in patients treated between 2012 and 2016 in two Munich-based academic centres of the German Cushing's Registry. The primary endpoint was the identification of variables whose changes from baseline to follow-up visit(s) could characterize well biochemical cured from not cured patients after 12 months. RESULTS: Ninety nine patients with at least two consecutive visits were enrolled. Biochemical data were available for 138 visit-pairs among which UFC was not controlled in 48 (34.8%) and controlled in 90 (65.2%) first visits. In 41 (29.7%) consecutive visits (visit-pairs) changes in biochemical activity categories was observed between visits; concretely: in 17 (12.3%) consecutive visits changing from previously controlled to not controlled, and in 24 (17.4%) from uncontrolled to controlled biochemical activity. Multivariate statistical analyses (especially analyses of variance) based on data of the 138 visit-pairs were performed in order to proof possible effects of biochemical activity on clinical benefits. However, in none of the considered 42 variables corresponding to quality of life-dimensions, laboratory, anthropometric, musculo-skeletal or other clinical areas any statistically significant differences between different categories of biochemical activity were observed. CONCLUSION: It was not possible to provide clinical key parameters in our population of patients with CD discriminating biochemical cured from non-cured patients and to construct a clinical scoring system reflecting clinical treatment benefits.

Cabergoline for Cushing's disease: a large retrospective multicenter study.

OBJECTIVE: The efficacy of cabergoline in Cushing's disease (CD) is controversial. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and tolerability of cabergoline in a large contemporary cohort of patients with CD. DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective multicenter study from thirteen French and Belgian university hospitals. METHODS: Sixty-two patients with CD received cabergoline monotherapy or add-on therapy. Symptom score, biological markers of hypercortisolism and adverse effects were recorded. RESULTS: Twenty-one (40%) of 53 patients who received cabergoline monotherapy had normal urinary free cortisol (UFC) values within 12 months (complete responders), and five of these patients developed corticotropic insufficiency. The fall in UFC was associated with significant reductions in midnight cortisol and plasma ACTH, and with clinical improvement. Compared to other patients, complete responders had similar median baseline UFC (2.0 vs 2.5xULN) and plasma prolactin concentrations but received lower doses of cabergoline (1.5 vs 3.5 mg/week, P < 0.05). During long-term treatment (>12 months), cabergoline was withdrawn in 28% of complete responders because of treatment escape or intolerance. Overall, sustained control of hypercortisolism was obtained in 23% of patients for 32.5 months (19-105). Nine patients on steroidogenesis inhibitors received cabergoline add-on therapy for 19 months (1-240). Hypercortisolism was controlled in 56% of these patients during the first year of treatment with cabergoline at 1.0 mg/week (0.5-3.5). CONCLUSIONS: About 20-25% of CD patients are good responders to cabergoline therapy allowing long-term control of hypercortisolism at relatively low dosages and with acceptable tolerability. No single parameter, including the baseline UFC and prolactin levels, predicted the response to cabergoline.

POSTSURGICAL RECURRENT CUSHING DISEASE: CLINICAL BENEFIT OF EARLY INTERVENTION IN PATIENTS WITH NORMAL URINARY FREE CORTISOL.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the performance of biochemical markers in the detection of recurrent Cushing disease (CD), as well as the potential benefit of early intervention in recurrent CD patients with elevated late-night salivary cortisol (LNSC) and normal urinary free cortisol (UFC). METHODS: The design was a single-center, retrospective chart review. Patients treated by the authors from 2008-2013 were included. Recurrence was defined by postsurgical remission of CD with subsequent abnormal LNSC, UFC, or dexamethasone suppression test (DST). RESULTS: We identified 15 patients with postsurgical recurrent CD after initial remission; all but one underwent testing with LNSC, DST, and UFC. Although 12 of 15 patients had normal UFC at time of recurrence, DST was abnormal in 11 of 15, and all 14 patients with LNSC results had ≥1 elevated measurement. Nine patients (7 with normal UFC) showed radiologic evidence of a pituitary tumor at time of recurrence. Among the 14 patients with available follow-up data, 12 have demonstrated significant improvement since receiving treatment. Five patients underwent repeat pituitary surgery and 4 achieved clinical and biochemical remission. Eight patients received mifepristone or cabergoline, and 6 showed clinical and/or biochemical improvement. Three patients (2 with prior mifepristone) underwent bilateral adrenalectomy and 2 demonstrated significant clinical improvements. CONCLUSION: LNSC is more sensitive than UFC or DST for detection of CD recurrence. Prompt intervention when LNSC is elevated, despite normal UFC, may yield significant clinical benefit for many patients with CD. Early treatment for patients with recurrent CD should be prospectively evaluated, utilizing LNSC elevation as an early biochemical marker. ABBREVIATIONS: ACTH = adrenocorticotropic hormone CD = Cushing disease CS = Cushing syndrome CV = coefficient of variation DST = dexamethasone suppression test IPSS = inferior petrosal sinus sampling LNSC = late-night salivary cortisol QoL = quality of life TSS = transsphenoidal adenoma resection UFC = urinary free cortisol.

A Single-Center 10-Year Experience with Pasireotide in Cushing's Disease: Patients' Characteristics and Outcome.

Pasireotide is the first pituitary-directed drug approved for treating patients with Cushing's disease (CD). Our 10-year experience with pasireotide in CD is reported here. Twenty patients with de novo, persistent, or recurrent CD after pituitary surgery were treated with pasireotide from December 2003 to December 2014. Twelve patients were treated with pasireotide in randomized trials and 8 patients with pasireotide sc (Signifor(®); Novartis AG, Basel, Switzerland) in clinical practice. The mean treatment duration was 20.5 months (median 9 months; range, 3-72 months). Urinary free cortisol (UFC) levels mean percentage change (± SD) at last follow-up was-40.4% (± 35.1; range, 2-92%; median reduction 33.3%) with a normalization rate of 50% (10/20). Ten patients achieved sustained normalized late night salivary cortisol (LNSC) levels during treatment. LNSC normalization was associated with UFC normalization in 7/10 patients. Serum cortisol and plasma ACTH significantly decreased from baseline to last follow-up. Body weight decrease and blood pressure improvement during pasireotide treatment were independent from UFC response. Glucose profile worsening was observed in all patients except one. The frequency of diabetes mellitus increased from 40% (8/20) at baseline to 85% (17/20) at last follow-up requiring initiation of medical treatment only in 44% of patients. Pasireotide treatment was associated with sustained biochemical and clinical benefit in about 60% of CD patients. Glucose profile alteration is a frequent complication of pasireotide treatment; however, it seems to be easy to manage with diet and lifestyle intervention in almost half of the patients.

Osilodrostat, a potent oral 11ß-hydroxylase inhibitor: 22-week, prospective, Phase II study in Cushing's disease.

PURPOSE: In a 10-week proof-of-concept study (LINC 1), the potent oral 11ß-hydroxylase inhibitor osilodrostat (LCI699) normalized urinary free cortisol (UFC) in 11/12 patients with Cushing's disease. The current 22-week study (LINC 2; NCT01331239) further evaluated osilodrostat in patients with Cushing's disease. METHODS: Phase II, open-label, prospective study of two patient cohorts. Follow-up cohort: 4/12 patients previously enrolled in LINC 1, offered re-enrollment if baseline mean UFC was above ULN. Expansion cohort: 15 newly enrolled patients with baseline UFC > 1.5 × ULN. In the follow-up cohort, patients initiated osilodrostat twice daily at the penultimate efficacious/tolerable dose in LINC 1; dose was adjusted as needed. In the expansion cohort, osilodrostat was initiated at 4 mg/day (10 mg/day if baseline UFC > 3 × ULN), with dose escalated every 2 weeks to 10, 20, 40, and 60 mg/day until UFC ≤ ULN. Main efficacy endpoint was the proportion of responders (UFC ≤ ULN or ≥50% decrease from baseline) at weeks 10 and 22. RESULTS: Overall response rate was 89.5% (n/N = 17/19) at 10 weeks and 78.9% (n/N = 15/19) at 22 weeks; at week 22, all responding patients had UFC ≤ ULN. The most common AEs observed during osilodrostat treatment were nausea, diarrhea, asthenia, and adrenal insufficiency (n = 6 for each). New or worsening hirsutism (n = 2) and/or acne (n = 3) were reported among four female patients, all of whom had increased testosterone levels. CONCLUSIONS: Osilodrostat treatment reduced UFC in all patients; 78.9% (n/N = 15/19) had normal UFC at week 22. Treatment with osilodrostat was generally well tolerated.

Urinary excretion of calcium and phosphate in dogs with pituitary-dependent hypercortisolism: case control study in 499 dogs.

Pituitary-dependent hypercortisolism (PDH) in dogs is frequently associated with high serum phosphate and parathormone concentrations which are in turn associated with prognosis and clinical presentation. The pathogenesis of such abnormalities remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the serum and urinary concentrations and the urinary fractional excretion of phosphate and calcium in dogs with PDH. Medical records of newly diagnosed PDH dogs before treatment from one referral centre were retrospectively evaluated. One clinically normal and one sick dog for each dog with PDH were included as controls. One hundred and sixty-seven dogs with PDH were included. The serum phosphate concentration in PDH dogs was significantly (P<0.0001) higher compared with clinically normal control dogs (CNDs) and sick control dogs (SCDs). The serum calcium concentration in PDH dogs was significantly higher compared with SCDs but not different compared with CNDs. Urinary fractional excretion of phosphate in PDH dogs was significantly lower compared with CNDs and SCDs. Urinary fractional excretion of calcium in PDH dogs was significantly higher compared with CNDs and SCDs. In conclusion, PDH dogs have lower phosphaturia and higher calciuria compared with control dogs. These findings suggest that, at least in part, high serum phosphate concentrations are related to the renal retention of phosphate.

Salivary cortisol is a useful tool to assess the early response to pasireotide in patients with Cushing's disease.

PURPOSE: Late night salivary cortisol (LNSC) is useful for diagnosing hypercortisolism and monitoring patients with Cushing's disease (CD) following pituitary surgery. It may also be a better index of cortisol secretion than serum cortisol or urinary free cortisol (UFC). No data regarding the role of LNSC in the early monitoring of patients with CD receiving drug therapy has been published. We investigated the value of LNSC in monitoring the short-term efficacy of pasireotide. METHODS: Seven patients who were enrolled in a phase II study investigating the efficacy of pasireotide in CD (CSOM230B2208) were included in this analysis. Patients self-administered subcutaneous pasireotide 600 µg bid for 15 days. LNSC and UFC levels were assessed at baseline and day 15. RESULTS: At baseline, all patients had elevated LNSC which was correlated significantly with UFC levels (r = 0.97, P = .0002). At day 15, LNSC was reduced in six patients. LNSC decreases were observed from day 1 (-20%) and persisted until day 15 (overall mean reduction from baseline -51%), with the greatest decrease on day 5 (-58%). At day 15, UFC levels were decreased in all patients and normalized in one that restored also salivary cortisol rhythm. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with CD, pasireotide rapidly reduced and normalized both UFC and LNSC levels. LNSC may be a simple, non-invasive biomarker to assess the early response to pasireotide, particularly in determining whether cortisol rhythm is normalized in patients with normalized UFC levels. Further studies are warranted.

Up-to 5-year efficacy of pasireotide in a patient with Cushing's disease and pre-existing diabetes: literature review and clinical practice considerations.

PURPOSE: Pasireotide is a multi-receptor-targeted somatostatin analogue approved in the EU and in the US for the treatment of adults with Cushing's disease (CD). Pasireotide has a safety profile similar to other somatostatin analogues with the exception of hyperglycemia. In this report and literature review, the current understanding of predicting a positive treatment response to pasireotide in CD and the management of diabetes mellitus (DM) during pasireotide treatment are discussed and analyzed. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of a 55-year-old woman with CD and DM who benefitted from long-term pasireotide. The patient, who was enrolled in a phase III trial of the drug, showed early clinical improvements with pasireotide [900 µg subcutaneously twice daily (bid)] but was classified as a non-responder as urinary free cortisol (UFC) levels, were not normalized. Continuation of pasireotide for 12 months at an increased dose (1,200 µg bid) normalized UFC levels and restored cortisol rhythm. The initial deterioration in her blood glucose was managed with insulin and metformin; however, after 12 months' treatment with pasireotide her DM was well controlled with oral hypoglycemic agents. Five years later, the patient is still receiving pasireotide (300 µg bid) with no loss of clinical or biochemical efficacy and with continued glycemic control. CONCLUSIONS: This case presentation indicates that uncontrolled UFC levels during the first few months of pasireotide treatment as well as worsening of glycemic control in patients with CD and DM are not always predictive of the efficacy and tolerability and appears to support the long-term continuation of pasireotide.

Pasireotide can induce sustained decreases in urinary cortisol and provide clinical benefit in patients with Cushing's disease: results from an open-ended, open-label extension trial.

PURPOSE: Report the efficacy and safety of pasireotide sc in patients with Cushing's disease during an open-ended, open-label extension to a randomized, double-blind, 12-month, Phase III study. METHODS: 162 patients entered the core study. 58 patients who had mean UFC ≤ ULN at month 12 or were benefiting clinically from pasireotide entered the extension. Patients received the same dose of pasireotide as at the end of the core study (300-1,200 µg bid). Dose titration was permitted according to efficacy or drug-related adverse events. RESULTS: 40 patients completed 24 months' treatment. Of the patients who entered the extension, 50.0% (29/58) and 34.5% (20/58) had controlled UFC (UFC ≤ ULN) at months 12 and 24, respectively. The mean percentage decrease in UFC was 57.3% (95% CI 40.7-73.9; n = 52) and 62.1% (50.8-73.5; n = 33) after 12 and 24 months' treatment, respectively. Improvements in clinical signs of Cushing's disease were sustained up to month 24. The most frequent drug-related adverse events in patients who received ≥1 dose of pasireotide (n = 162) from core baseline until the 24-month cut-off were diarrhea (55.6%), nausea (48.1%), hyperglycemia (38.9%), and cholelithiasis (31.5%). No new safety issues were identified during the extension. CONCLUSIONS: Reductions in mean UFC and improvements in clinical signs of Cushing's disease were maintained over 24 months of pasireotide treatment. The safety profile of pasireotide is typical for a somatostatin analogue, except for the frequency and degree of hyperglycemia; patients should be monitored for changes in glucose homeostasis. Pasireotide represents the first approved pituitary-targeted treatment for patients with Cushing's disease.

The diagnostic performance of urinary free cortisol is better than the cortisol:cortisone ratio in detecting de novo Cushing's syndrome: the use of a LC-MS/MS method in routine clinical practice.

OBJECTIVE: The Endocrine Society Clinical Guidelines recommend measuring 24-h urinary free cortisol (UFF) levels using a highly accurate method as one of the first-line screening tests for the diagnosis of Cushing's Syndrome (CS). We evaluated the performance of UFF, urinary free cortisone (UFE), and the UFF:UFE ratio, measured using a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The LC-MS/MS was used to analyze UFF and UFE levels in 43 surgically confirmed CS patients: 26 with Cushing's disease (CD, 16 de novo and ten recurrences), 11 with adrenal CS and six with ectopic CS; 22 CD patients in remission; 14 eu-cortisolemic CD patients receiving medical therapy; 60 non-CS patients; and 70 healthy controls. Sensitivity and specificity were determined in the combined groups of non-CS patients, healthy controls, and CD in remission. RESULTS: UFF>170 nmol/24 h showed 98.7% specificity and 100% sensitivity for de novo CS, while sensitivity was 80% for recurrent CD patients, who were characterized by lower UFF levels. The UFF:UFE and UFF+UFE showed lower sensitivity and specificity than UFF. Ectopic CS patients had the highest UFF and UFF:UFE levels, which were normal in the CD remission patients and in those receiving medical therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest high diagnostic performance of UFF excretion measured using LC-MS/MS, in detecting de novo CS. UFF:UFE and UFF+UFE assessments are not useful in the first step of CS diagnosis, although high levels were found to be indicative of ectopic CS.

Ketoconazole in Cushing's disease: is it worth a try?

BACKGROUND: The use of ketoconazole has been recently questioned after warnings from the European Medicine Agencies and the Food and Drug Administration due to potential hepatotoxicity. However, ketoconazole is frequently used as a drug to lower circulating cortisol levels. Several pharmacological agents have recently been approved for the treatment of Cushing's disease (CD) despite limited efficacy or significant side effects. Ketoconazole has been used worldwide for more than 30 years in CD, but in the absence of a large-scale study, its efficacy and tolerance are still under debate. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a French retrospective multicenter study reviewing data from patients treated by ketoconazole as a single agent for CD, with the aim of clarifying efficacy and tolerance to better determine the benefit/risk balance. RESULTS: Data from 200 patients were included in this study. At the last follow-up, 49.3% of patients had normal urinary free cortisol (UFC) levels, 25.6% had at least a 50% decrease, and 25.4% had unchanged UFC levels. The median final dose of ketoconazole was 600 mg/d. Forty patients (20%) received ketoconazole as a presurgical treatment; 40% to 50% of these patients showed improvement of hypertension, hypokalemia, and diabetes, and 48.7% had normal UFC before surgery. Overall, 41 patients (20.5%) stopped the treatment due to poor tolerance. Mild (<5N, inferior to 5-fold normal values) and major (>5N, superior to 5-fold normal values) increases in liver enzymes were observed in 13.5% and 2.5% of patients, respectively. No fatal hepatitis was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Ketoconazole is an effective drug with acceptable side effects. It should be used under close liver enzyme monitoring. Hepatotoxicity is usually mild and resolves after drug withdrawal.

LCI699, a potent 11ß-hydroxylase inhibitor, normalizes urinary cortisol in patients with Cushing's disease: results from a multicenter, proof-of-concept study.

INTRODUCTION: The clinical features and increased mortality associated with Cushing's syndrome result from a chronic excess of circulating cortisol. As LCI699 potently inhibits 11ß-hydroxylase, which catalyzes the final step of cortisol synthesis, it is a potential new treatment for Cushing's disease, the most common cause of endogenous Cushing's syndrome. METHODS: Adult patients with moderate-to-severe Cushing's disease (urinary free cortisol [UFC] levels >1.5 × ULN [upper limit of normal]) received oral LCI699 for 10 weeks in this proof-of-concept study. LCI699 was initiated at 4 mg/d in two equal doses; the dose was escalated every 14 days to 10, 20, 40, and 100 mg/d until UFC normalized, whereupon the dose was maintained until treatment ended (day 70). The primary endpoint was UFC ≤ ULN or a ≥50% decrease from baseline at day 70. RESULTS: Twelve patients were enrolled and completed the study. Baseline UFC ranged over 1.6-17.0 × ULN. All 12 patients achieved UFC ≤ULN or a ≥50% decrease from baseline at day 70; 11 (92%) had normal UFC levels at that time. After treatment discontinuation (day 84), UFC was >ULN in 10 patients with available measurements. Mean 11-deoxycortisol, 11-deoxycorticosterone, and adrenocorticotropic hormone levels increased during treatment and declined after discontinuation. Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased from baseline by 10.0 and 6.0 mmHg, respectively. LCI699 was generally well tolerated; most adverse events (AEs) were mild or moderate. The most common AEs included fatigue (7/12), nausea (5/12), and headache (3/12). No serious drug-related AEs were reported. CONCLUSIONS: LCI699 was efficacious and well tolerated in patients with Cushing's disease enrolled in this proof-of-concept study.

Desmopressin test in the diagnosis and follow-up of cyclical Cushing's disease.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the utility of the desmopressin (DDAVP) test in the diagnosis and follow-up of a cyclical Cushing's disease (CCS) case. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Laboratory tests included morning and midnight serum cortisol levels, 24h urine free cortisol excretion, midnight salivary cortisol levels, serum cortisol levels after low (1 mg) and high (8 mg) dexamethasone, plasma ACTH and serum cortisol levels after DDAVP. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to assess the presence of a pituitary adenoma. The resected tumor specimen was studied by histological, immunohistochemical and cell biology techniques. RESULTS: A patient was referred to our unit with a diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome (CS) for further evaluation and treatment. However, no biochemical evidence of hypercortisolism was observed in the follow-up evaluations. Furthermore, the typical features of CS fluctuated throughout this period. A consistent positive response to the DDAVP stimulation test was observed during the diagnostic work-up, even when overt clinical features of CS were not apparent, raising suspicion for CCS. After two years of follow-up a definitive diagnosis of hypercortisolism was established. An MRI scan revealed a pituitary adenoma, as the source of ACTH production. After transphenoidal surgery, clinical signs of CS resolved and the response to DDAVP became negative. DDAVP induced a significant increase in ACTH levels in cultured pituitary adenoma cells, consistent with the in vivo DDAVP test results. CONCLUSIONS: Our case illustrates the utility of the DDAVP test in the evaluation of patients with suspected CCS. The DDAVP test could facilitate the management of CCS by shortening the time of diagnosis.

High variability in baseline urinary free cortisol values in patients with Cushing's disease.

OBJECTIVE: Twenty-four-hour urinary free cortisol (UFC) sampling is commonly used to evaluate Cushing's syndrome. Because there are few data on UFC variability in patients with active Cushing's disease, we analysed baseline UFC in a large patient cohort with moderate-to-severe Cushing's disease and assessed whether variability correlates with hypercortisolism severity. These data will help clinicians establish the minimum number of UFC samples required to obtain reliable data. DESIGN: Observational study (enrolment phase of Phase III study). METHODS: Patients (n = 152) with persistent/recurrent or de novo Cushing's disease and mean UFC (mUFC) ≥1·5×ULN (normal: 30-145 nmol/24 h) were included. Mean UFC level was calculated from four 24-h urine samples collected over 2 weeks. RESULTS: Over 600 24-h UFC samples were analysed. The mUFC levels of samples 1 and 2 and samples 3 and 4 were 1000 nmol/24 h (SD 1872) and 940 nmol/24 h (SD 2148), respectively; intrapatient coefficient of variation (CV) was 38% for mUFC. The intrapatient CV using all four samples was 52% (95% CI: 48-56). The intrapatient CV was 51% (95% CI: 44-58) for samples 1 and 2, 49% (95% CI: 43-56) for samples 3 and 4 and 54% (95% CI: 49-59) for samples 1, 2 and 3. Variability in mUFC increased as UFC levels increased. There were no correlations between UFC and clinical features of hypercortisolism. CONCLUSIONS: There is intrapatient variability of approximately 50% in 24-h UFC measurements, which is relevant to targets set to estimate any treatment effect. Analysing more than two 24-h collection periods in individual patients does not result in a relevant decrease in variability. Interestingly, UFC levels did not correlate with hypercortisolism severity.