Pregnancy in Patients with Cushing's Syndrome

Abstract

Progress in diagnosis and treatment of endocrine diseases has made pregnancy possible for women with endocrinopathies, including Cushing's syndrome (CS). The risk of maternal-fetal complications in patients who are not biochemically controlled, however, is substantial. Therefore, the surgical and/or medical control of hypercortisolism is mandatory prior to conceiving. A diagnosis of de novo CS during gestation is difficult due to changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis during pregnancy, which may lead to some clinical features suggestive of CS along with abnormal laboratory tests. This review presents the diagnosis and management of CS during pregnancy.

Keywords: Cushing’s syndrome; Hypercortisolism; Pregnancy.