FACTORS INFLUENCING THE DEVELOPMENT OF GLUCOSE-INTOLERANCE IN CUSHINGSYNDROME

Background: Although the frequency of glucose intolerance in endogenou s Gushing syndrome has been repeatedly evaluated, no attempt has been made so far at analyzing simple clinical factors in order to quantify their influence on the development of glucose intolerance. Methods: Th e influence of 6 factors on the development of glucose intolerance (fa mily history of diabetes, age and body mass index of patients, duratio n of hypercortisolism, its pathogenetic form, and the extent of its cl inical manifestation) was evaluated by means of multiple regression in 74 patients with Gushing syndrome. Results: The disappearance of a no rmal glucose tolerance in Gushing syndrome was a function of the time of duration of hypercortisolism. The emergence of diabetes mellitus, b ut not of impaired glucose tolerance, was supported by ageing. Surpris ingly, the family history failed to have any predictive value. Conclus ions: The results suggest that diabetes mellitus in endogenous Gushing syndrome is a disorder genetically different from primary diabetes me llitus.