Food-dependent Cushing's syndrome

Abstract

It has recently been proposed that other hormones than ACTH can control cortisol production in Cushing's syndrome with bilateral adrenal hyperplasia. We present a case of food-dependent Cushing's syndrome. After a positive response of cortisol production during mixed meals, several tests identified glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) as the driving hormone responsible for the cortisol overproduction. Identification of aberrant hormone receptor expression is of importance because it may create a possibility for pharmacological treatment.