Arterial Hypertension secondary to Cushing´s Disease. Report of a clinical case

Abstract

Introduction: Cushing's Disease is one of the least prevalent causes of secondary hypertension (0.7 to 2.4 cases per million people), however it entails an increase in morbidity and mortality that is related to the chronic exposure of corticosteroids ⁶, which represents a problem because the nonspecificity of the symptoms and their low prevalence lead to a diagnostic delay of 2 to 4 years ⁶, increasing the cardiovascular risk despite complete resolution of the disease ^{6 -9}. The purpose of this article aims to increase the degree of suspicion of secondary etiologies of hypertension, as well as expand knowledge about Cushing's Disease. Clinical Case: 36-year-old female patient with hypertension of 7 years of evolution, in whom an ACTH-producing pituitary adenoma was identified, with subsequent partial transsphenoidal excision, presenting persistent disease, in whom pharmacological management based on a steroidogenesis inhibitor was chosen. for disease control. Discussion: Hypertension is a public health problem, considered the main risk factor for disability and premature death ², with secondary causes responsible for great impact on quality of life, considering that these are potentially curative. The management of CD is mainly surgical ^6,13-14, but in cases of persistent disease there are alternatives to control the disease ^6,15-16, with steroidogenesis inhibitor drugs being the most used. Conclusions: CD is a rare cause of secondary hypertension, but it implies a significant compromise in quality of life, like other secondary etiologies, so it is essential to consider the clinical and biochemical characteristics that suggest a secondary etiology, which can lead to timely diagnosis and treatment.