Successful treatment of Cushing's disease with o,p'-DDD followed by pituitary irradiation in a 19-year-old male patient. 1979

Z Dickerman, and H Kaufman, and Z Laron

A 19-year-old male patient with Cushing's disease was treated for 15 months with a gastric-insoluble preparation of o,p'-DDD. The daily o,p'-DDD dose (range, 2 to 12 g) was adjusted periodically according to the urinary excretion of 11-hydroxycorticosteroids. Because of a rise in the plasma ACTH level from 135 to 300 pg/ml 12 months after the start of the o,p'-DDD therapy, the dose was reduced from 6 to 2 g/day and external pituitary irradiation (4,480 rads) was initiated. Insulin-induced hypoglycemia and stimulation tests with luteinizing-hormone-releasing factor and thyrotropin-releasing hormone, performed before initiation of o,p'-DDD and six months after pituitary irradiation, did not reveal any disturbance in the secretion of human growth hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone or prolactin. The clinical and laboratory signs of Cushing's disease disappeared gradually, and the patient tolerated the drug well, even at a dose of 12 g/day. The only abnormalities found during o,p'-DDD treatment were low serum thyroxine levels, which returned to normal after discontinuation of the drug, and a transient drop in thrombocyte count. At present, two years after the discontinuation of o,p'-DDD therapy and pituitary irradiation, the patient is symptom free and receives no medication.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008939 Mitotane A derivative of the insecticide DICHLORODIPHENYLDICHLOROETHANE that specifically inhibits cells of the adrenal cortex and their production of hormones. It is used to treat adrenocortical tumors and causes CNS damage, but no bone marrow depression. o,p-DDD,ortho,para-DDD,Chloditan,Chlodithane,Khloditan,Lysodren,Mytotan,ortho,para DDD
D010910 Pituitary Irradiation Radiation therapy used to treat the PITUITARY GLAND. Pituitary Gland Irradiation,Gland Irradiation, Pituitary,Gland Irradiations, Pituitary,Irradiation, Pituitary,Irradiation, Pituitary Gland,Irradiations, Pituitary,Irradiations, Pituitary Gland,Pituitary Gland Irradiations,Pituitary Irradiations
D003480 Cushing Syndrome A condition caused by prolonged exposure to excess levels of cortisol (HYDROCORTISONE) or other GLUCOCORTICOIDS from endogenous or exogenous sources. It is characterized by upper body OBESITY; OSTEOPOROSIS; HYPERTENSION; DIABETES MELLITUS; HIRSUTISM; AMENORRHEA; and excess body fluid. Endogenous Cushing syndrome or spontaneous hypercortisolism is divided into two groups, those due to an excess of ADRENOCORTICOTROPIN and those that are ACTH-independent. Cushing's Syndrome,Hypercortisolism,Syndrome, Cushing,Syndrome, Cushing's
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults

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