Endothelial progenitor cells in a patient with Cushing's syndrome before and after adrenal surgery

• Main Author: Roberto Negro
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2018-06-01
• Series: Journal of Clinical and Translational Endocrinology Case Reports
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221462451730031X

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) exert a pivotal role in vascular repairing and vascular function. Low EPCs levels have been detected in patients with endocrine disease at increased cardiovascular risk such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, and hypogonadism. In this case report we describe EPCs levels variations in a patient suffering from subclinical Cushing's syndrome. Once the diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome due to a 30mm adrenal adenoma of the left gland was established, EPCs levels were determined before adrenal surgery. One year after adrenal removal, and patient's recovery, both hypertension and diabetes improved; at that time, a second determination demonstrated increased EPCs levels. This is the first report of an association between Cushing's syndrome and low EPCs, whose levels increased after adrenalectomy. Keywords: Cushing's syndrome, Endothelial progenitor cells