What causes Cushing's syndrome?

• A. Excess estrogen secretion
• B. Excess cortisol secretion.
• C. Deficiency of adrenal hormones
• D. Excess growth hormone

Answer: (B)

Cushing's syndrome is primarily caused by an excess of cortisol secretion. This can occur due to various reasons, including tumors of the adrenal glands that produce too much cortisol, or issues with the pituitary gland (Cushing's disease), where an adenoma secretes adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) that stimulates the adrenal glands to produce more cortisol.

The elevated cortisol levels lead to a range of symptoms, such as weight gain, thinning skin, increased blood pressure, and disturbances in glucose metabolism, all linked to the effects of cortisol on the body's metabolism and stress response. The body’s physiological mechanisms are disrupted when cortisol is present in excessive amounts, which explains why identifying the appropriate cause of Cushing's syndrome is critical for effective treatment.

Other options relate to hormonal imbalances, but they are not directly associated with Cushing's syndrome. For example, excess estrogen or growth hormone does not directly lead to the condition, and a deficiency of adrenal hormones would have a different clinical presentation, such as Addison’s disease, rather than Cushing's syndrome. Thus, excess cortisol secretion is the defining factor for Cushing's syndrome.