Causes and Pathophysiology of Cushing Syndrome

RUNNING HEAD: CHALLENGE AND RESPONSE BODY INTEGRITY 1
Challenge and Response Body Integrity
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CHALLENGE AND RESPONSE BODY INTEGRITY 2
CAUSATIVE FACTORS AND PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF CUSHING
SYNDROME
Causes
Cushing syndrome is a condition that arise whenever the level or a hormone called
cortisol increases in the body. This condition can also develop from causes outside the body
through the ingestion of drugs known as corticosteroids especially if taken in high doses for a
long time (Neychev, 2016).The organ o rather gland that is responsible in producing cortisol is
known as the adrenal glands.Oral corticosteroids for example are used in the treatment of
conditions like arthritis, lupus and asthma as well to prevent rejection during organ transplants.
These drugs are however needed in high dosage and this leads to high levels of cortisol in the
body and this eventually leads to what is called the Cushing syndrome.
Pathophysiology
Adrenocorticopin hormone (ACTH) stimulate the adrenal gland that in turn secretes
cortisol. ACTH is usually produced in the pituitary gland and only released in the petrosal
venous sinus and the stimulation of corticotrophin hormone. The Adrenocorticopin hormone is
released on a diurnal pattern which does not directly depend on the levels of cortisol. Most of it
is released in the morning hours and tends to reduce in the course of the day (Lowe, Young,
Lyssikatos, Stratakis, & Carney, 2017).There are two hormones in the name of CRH AS WELL
AS ACTH which are monitored and regulated by the negative feedback mechanism of the
hormone cortsisol at both the hypothalamic as well as the pituitary levels. However, neuronal
input at the hypothalamic level can as well stimulate the release of CRH.