Cardiovascular consequences of cortisol excess
Date
2005-12
Authors
Whitworth, Judith A
Williamson, Paula M
Mangos, George
Kelly, John J
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Dove Medical Press Ltd
Abstract
Cushing's syndrome is a consequence of primary or, more commonly, secondary oversecretion of cortisol. Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in Cushing's syndrome, and excess risk remains even in effectively treated patients. The cardiovascular consequences of cortisol excess are protean and include, inter alia, elevation of blood pressure, truncal obesity, hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia. This review analyses the relationship of cortisol excess, both locally and at tissue level, to these cardiovascular risk factors, and to putative mechanisms for hypertension. Previous studies have examined correlations between cortisol, blood pressure, and other parameters in the general population and in Cushing's syndrome. This review also details changes induced by short-term cortisol administration in normotensive healthy men.
Description
Keywords
blood pressure, cortisol, Cushing's syndrome, risk factors
Citation
Collections
Source
Vascular Health and Risk Management
Type
Journal article