RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Biventricular hypertrophy and heart failure as initial presentation of Cushing's disease
JF BMJ Case Reports
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP bcr2013201307
DO 10.1136/bcr-2013-201307
VO 2013
A1 Thomas Morris Hey
A1 Jordi Sanchez Dahl
A1 Thomas Heiberg Brix
A1 Eva Vad Søndergaard
YR 2013
UL http://casereports.bmj.com/content/2013/bcr-2013-201307.abstract
AB We present a unique case of a 32-year-old woman with severe biventricular hypertrophy and acute heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction of 25–30% due to Cushing's disease. The patient was admitted to a specialised cardiac unit and treated with conventional therapy against heart failure. The department of endocrinology was consulted because of clinical suspicion of Cushing's syndrome. Initial biochemistry indicated the presence of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) dependent Cushing's syndrome and a dexamethasone suppression test confirmed the diagnosis. A cerebral MRI scan revealed a pituitary adenoma and a sinus petrosus inferior catheterisation confirmed increased production of ACTH from the pituitary. The patient was referred to the neurosurgical department and the adenoma was successfully removed by transsphenoidalic catheterisation and ablation. Five months following the initial hospitalisation the patient was nearly in full recovery with respect to her cardiac function and biochemically there were no signs of Cushing's syndrome.