Endocrine Disorders and Peripheral Arterial Disease – A Series of Reviews Cushing Syndrome-Cortisol Excess

Title:Endocrine Disorders and Peripheral Arterial Disease – A Series of Reviews Cushing Syndrome-Cortisol Excess

Volume: 21

Author(s): Poredos P., Schernthaner GH, Blinc A, Mikhailidis DP, Jensterle M, Anagnostis P, Antignani PL, Bajuk Studen K, Šabović M and Jezovnik MK*

Affiliation:

• The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Department of Advanced Cardiopulmonary Therapies and Transplantation, Houston, Texas, USA

Keywords: Cortisol excess, metabolic syndrome, atherogenesis, insulin resistance.

Abstract: Cushing syndrome (CS), characterised by endogenous or exogenous glucocorticoid hormone excess, is associated with several systemic complications, including impaired glucose metabolism, which often becomes clinically manifest as diabetes mellitus (DM). In addition, CS can harm the arterial wall because of hyperglycaemia, dyslipidaemia, hepatic steatosis, and central obesity. These metabolic disorders promote atherosclerosis by synthesising adipokines, leptin, and proinflammatory cytokines. Lower limb arterial complications in CS are common and significantly impact morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, CS, in combination with DM, is likely to cause more diffuse vascular disease that predominantly affects distal arterial beds. In conclusion, CS promotes atherosclerosis, including peripheral artery disease, by causing functional and morphological deterioration of the arterial vessel wall and increasing the presence of classical risk factors of atherosclerosis.

Cite this article as:

P. Poredos, GH Schernthaner, A Blinc, DP Mikhailidis, M Jensterle, P Anagnostis, PL Antignani, K Studen Bajuk, M Šabović and MK Jezovnik*, Endocrine Disorders and Peripheral Arterial Disease – A Series of Reviews Cushing Syndrome-Cortisol Excess, Current Vascular Pharmacology 2023; 21 () . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/0115701611272145231106053914