CUSHING'S SYNDROME?KILLING DISEASE: DISCRIMINATORY VALUE OF SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS AIDING EARLY DIAGNOSIS

The high long-term mortality resulting from cardiovascular disease in patients with Cushing's syndrome demands recognition and treatment of the disorder at an early stage. The main difficulty is the differentiation of Cushing's syndrome patients from those in the general population with similar symptoms and signs (obesity, hirsutism, menstrual irregularity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus) but without hypercortisolaemia. This survey of 70 patients identified the presence of ecchymoses, myopathy, and hypertension as the clinical features of greatest discriminatory value.