-
Posts
810 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
4
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Blogs
Gallery
Articles
Media Demo
Store
Posts posted by zhen
-
-
Anyone know the cure rate for this drug?
It's more complicated than a cure rate. There's a comprehensive report about the success and adverse event rates on the fda website.
-
Are there any long term reproductive implications due to use of Korlym?
I can't imagine that anyone with Cushing's would want to chance passing this gene along.
- 1
-
Neuroendocrinology. 2010;92 Suppl 1:107-10. Epub 2010 Sep 10.
Pituitary radiotherapy for Cushing's disease.
Losa M, Picozzi P, Redaelli MG, Laurenzi A, Mortini P.
Source
Department of Neurosurgery, Istituto Scientifico San Raffaele, Università Vita-Salute, Milano, Italy. losa.marco@hsr.it
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
The treatment of choice for Cushing's disease is pituitary surgery. Second-line treatments include repeat pituitary surgery, radiation therapy, medical therapy, and bilateral adrenalectomy. The most used modalities to irradiate patients with Cushing's disease include fractionated radiotherapy and single-dose Gamma Knife. We aim to review the efficacy and safety of radiotherapy in patients with persistent or recurring Cushing's disease.
RESULTS:
Remission of Cushing's disease after radiotherapy ranges from 42 to 83%. There seems to be no clear difference according to the technique of radiation used. Most patients experience remission of disease within 3 years from treatment, with only few cases reaching normal cortisol secretion after a longer follow-up. Control of tumor growth varies from 93 to 100%. Severe side effects of radiotherapy, such as optic neuropathy and radionecrosis, are uncommon. New-onset hypopituitarism is the most frequent side effect of radiation, occurring in 30-50% of patients treated by fractionated radiotherapy while it has been reported in 11-22% of patients after Gamma Knife.
CONCLUSION:
Radiotherapy is an effective second-line treatment in patients with Cushing's disease not cured by surgery. Consideration of the advantages and disadvantages of radiotherapy in comparison with other therapeutic options should always be carried out in the single patient before deciding the second-line therapeutic strategy for persisting or recurring Cushing's disease.
Copyright © 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel.
The full text article can be found at: http://content.karger.com/ProdukteDB/produkte.asp?Aktion=ShowPDF&ArtikelNr=000314299&Ausgabe=254530&ProduktNr=223855&filename=000314299.pdf
Can You Help Carl's Mom?
in Please Help These Others
Posted
I still have those symptoms a year post-op. The pain can be managed with tramadol or opiate pain medications. These also effect the endocrine system and will slow recovery or introduce a new dependency which would have it's own withdrawal syndrome later when they are removed. OTC pain meds don't seem to be much help. Cymbalta, Lyrica or antidepressants may help, but these also effect the endocrine system. Hydrocortisone dose can be increased to reduce symptoms, but this may delay or inhibit recovery too.
This article explains the issue and offers some limited choices. http://edrv.endojournals.org/content/24/4/523.full.pdf+html The key remark in the article is: