Cardiovascular risk and white matter lesions after endocrine control of Cushing's syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
Cushing's syndrome (CS) is associated with high cardiovascular risk. White matter lesions (WML) are common on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with increased cardiovascular risk.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between cardiovascular risk, WML, neuropsychological performance and brain volume in CS.


METHODS
Thirty-eight patients with CS (23 in remission, 15 active) and 38 controls sex-, age- and education-level matched underwent a neuropsychological and clinical evaluation, blood and urine tests and 3Tesla brain MRI. WML were analysed with the Scheltens scale. Ten-year cardiovascular risk (10CVR) and vascular age (VA) were calculated according to an algorithm based on the Framingham heart study.


RESULTS
Patients in remission had a higher degree of WML than controls and active patients (P<0.001 and P=0.008 respectively), which did not correlate with cognitive performance in any group. WML severity positively correlated with diastolic blood pressure (r=0.659, P=0.001) and duration of hypertension (r=0.478, P=0.021) in patients in remission. Both patient groups (active and in remission) had higher 10CVR (P=0.030, P=0.041) and VA than controls (P=0.013, P=0.039). Neither the 10CVR nor the VA correlated with WML, although both negatively correlated with cognitive function and brain volume in patients in remission (P<0.05). Total brain volume and grey matter volume in both CS patient groups were reduced compared to controls (total volume: active P=0.006, in remission P=0.012; grey matter: active P=0.001, in remission P=0.003), with no differences in white matter volume between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients in remission of Cushing's syndrome (but not active patients) have more severe white matter lesions than controls, positively correlated with diastolic pressure and duration of hypertension. Ten-year cardiovascular risk and vascular age appear to be negatively correlated with the cognitive function and brain volume in patients in remission of Cushing's syndrome.
Endocrinology/Medicine DepartmentsHospital Sant Pau, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER, Unidad 747), IIB-Sant Pau, ISCIII and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Sant Antoni Maria Claret n. 167, 08025 Barcelona, SpainNeuroradiology UnitHospital de Sant Pau, and IIB-Sant Pau, UAB, Barcelona, SpainINNDACYTAvda. Europa, 20, planta baja puerta D 08907, Hospitalet de Llobregat, SpainEscola Universitària d'InfermeriaHospital de Sant Pau. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Psychiatry and Clinical PsychobiologyPsychology Faculty, Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour (IR3C), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain asantos@santpau.cat.
Alicia
A
Santos
Endocrinology/Medicine DepartmentsHospital Sant Pau, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER, Unidad 747), IIB-Sant Pau, ISCIII and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Sant Antoni Maria Claret n. 167, 08025 Barcelona, SpainNeuroradiology UnitHospital de Sant Pau, and IIB-Sant Pau, UAB, Barcelona, SpainINNDACYTAvda. Europa, 20, planta baja puerta D 08907, Hospitalet de Llobregat, SpainEscola Universitària d'InfermeriaHospital de Sant Pau. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Psychiatry and Clinical PsychobiologyPsychology Faculty, Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour (IR3C), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain.
Eugenia
E
Resmini
Endocrinology/Medicine DepartmentsHospital Sant Pau, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER, Unidad 747), IIB-Sant Pau, ISCIII and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Sant Antoni Maria Claret n. 167, 08025 Barcelona, SpainNeuroradiology UnitHospital de Sant Pau, and IIB-Sant Pau, UAB, Barcelona, SpainINNDACYTAvda. Europa, 20, planta baja puerta D 08907, Hospitalet de Llobregat, SpainEscola Universitària d'InfermeriaHospital de Sant Pau. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Psychiatry and Clinical PsychobiologyPsychology Faculty, Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour (IR3C), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain.
Beatriz
B
Gómez-Ansón
Endocrinology/Medicine DepartmentsHospital Sant Pau, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER, Unidad 747), IIB-Sant Pau, ISCIII and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Sant Antoni Maria Claret n. 167, 08025 Barcelona, SpainNeuroradiology UnitHospital de Sant Pau, and IIB-Sant Pau, UAB, Barcelona, SpainINNDACYTAvda. Europa, 20, planta baja puerta D 08907, Hospitalet de Llobregat, SpainEscola Universitària d'InfermeriaHospital de Sant Pau. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Psychiatry and Clinical PsychobiologyPsychology Faculty, Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour (IR3C), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain.
Iris
I
Crespo
Endocrinology/Medicine DepartmentsHospital Sant Pau, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER, Unidad 747), IIB-Sant Pau, ISCIII and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Sant Antoni Maria Claret n. 167, 08025 Barcelona, SpainNeuroradiology UnitHospital de Sant Pau, and IIB-Sant Pau, UAB, Barcelona, SpainINNDACYTAvda. Europa, 20, planta baja puerta D 08907, Hospitalet de Llobregat, SpainEscola Universitària d'InfermeriaHospital de Sant Pau. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Psychiatry and Clinical PsychobiologyPsychology Faculty, Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour (IR3C), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain.
Esther
E
Granell
Endocrinology/Medicine DepartmentsHospital Sant Pau, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER, Unidad 747), IIB-Sant Pau, ISCIII and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Sant Antoni Maria Claret n. 167, 08025 Barcelona, SpainNeuroradiology UnitHospital de Sant Pau, and IIB-Sant Pau, UAB, Barcelona, SpainINNDACYTAvda. Europa, 20, planta baja puerta D 08907, Hospitalet de Llobregat, SpainEscola Universitària d'InfermeriaHospital de Sant Pau. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Psychiatry and Clinical PsychobiologyPsychology Faculty, Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour (IR3C), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain.
Elena
E
Valassi
Endocrinology/Medicine DepartmentsHospital Sant Pau, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER, Unidad 747), IIB-Sant Pau, ISCIII and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Sant Antoni Maria Claret n. 167, 08025 Barcelona, SpainNeuroradiology UnitHospital de Sant Pau, and IIB-Sant Pau, UAB, Barcelona, SpainINNDACYTAvda. Europa, 20, planta baja puerta D 08907, Hospitalet de Llobregat, SpainEscola Universitària d'InfermeriaHospital de Sant Pau. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Psychiatry and Clinical PsychobiologyPsychology Faculty, Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour (IR3C), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain.
Patricia
P
Pires
Endocrinology/Medicine DepartmentsHospital Sant Pau, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER, Unidad 747), IIB-Sant Pau, ISCIII and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Sant Antoni Maria Claret n. 167, 08025 Barcelona, SpainNeuroradiology UnitHospital de Sant Pau, and IIB-Sant Pau, UAB, Barcelona, SpainINNDACYTAvda. Europa, 20, planta baja puerta D 08907, Hospitalet de Llobregat, SpainEscola Universitària d'InfermeriaHospital de Sant Pau. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Psychiatry and Clinical PsychobiologyPsychology Faculty, Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour (IR3C), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain.
Yolanda
Y
Vives-Gilabert
Endocrinology/Medicine DepartmentsHospital Sant Pau, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER, Unidad 747), IIB-Sant Pau, ISCIII and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Sant Antoni Maria Claret n. 167, 08025 Barcelona, SpainNeuroradiology UnitHospital de Sant Pau, and IIB-Sant Pau, UAB, Barcelona, SpainINNDACYTAvda. Europa, 20, planta baja puerta D 08907, Hospitalet de Llobregat, SpainEscola Universitària d'InfermeriaHospital de Sant Pau. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Psychiatry and Clinical PsychobiologyPsychology Faculty, Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour (IR3C), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain Endocrinology/Medicine DepartmentsHospital Sant Pau, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER, Unidad 747), IIB-Sant Pau, ISCIII and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Sant Antoni Maria Claret n. 167, 08025 Barcelona, SpainNeuroradiology UnitHospital de Sant Pau, and IIB-Sant Pau, UAB, Barcelona, SpainINNDACYTAvda. Europa, 20, planta baja puerta D 08907, Hospitalet de Llobregat, SpainEscola Universitària d'InfermeriaHospital de Sant Pau. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Psychiatry and Clinical PsychobiologyPsychology Faculty, Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour (IR3C), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain.
M Antonia
MA
Martínez-Momblán
Endocrinology/Medicine DepartmentsHospital Sant Pau, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER, Unidad 747), IIB-Sant Pau, ISCIII and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Sant Antoni Maria Claret n. 167, 08025 Barcelona, SpainNeuroradiology UnitHospital de Sant Pau, and IIB-Sant Pau, UAB, Barcelona, SpainINNDACYTAvda. Europa, 20, planta baja puerta D 08907, Hospitalet de Llobregat, SpainEscola Universitària d'InfermeriaHospital de Sant Pau. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Psychiatry and Clinical PsychobiologyPsychology Faculty, Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour (IR3C), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain.
Manuel
M
de Juan
Endocrinology/Medicine DepartmentsHospital Sant Pau, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER, Unidad 747), IIB-Sant Pau, ISCIII and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Sant Antoni Maria Claret n. 167, 08025 Barcelona, SpainNeuroradiology UnitHospital de Sant Pau, and IIB-Sant Pau, UAB, Barcelona, SpainINNDACYTAvda. Europa, 20, planta baja puerta D 08907, Hospitalet de Llobregat, SpainEscola Universitària d'InfermeriaHospital de Sant Pau. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Psychiatry and Clinical PsychobiologyPsychology Faculty, Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour (IR3C), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain.
Maria
M
Mataró
Endocrinology/Medicine DepartmentsHospital Sant Pau, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER, Unidad 747), IIB-Sant Pau, ISCIII and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Sant Antoni Maria Claret n. 167, 08025 Barcelona, SpainNeuroradiology UnitHospital de Sant Pau, and IIB-Sant Pau, UAB, Barcelona, SpainINNDACYTAvda. Europa, 20, planta baja puerta D 08907, Hospitalet de Llobregat, SpainEscola Universitària d'InfermeriaHospital de Sant Pau. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Psychiatry and Clinical PsychobiologyPsychology Faculty, Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour (IR3C), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain.
Susan M
SM
Webb
D049913:ACTH-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma / Q000601:surgery*; D000236:Adenoma / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology; D003480:Cushing Syndrome / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009929:Organ Size; D012074:Remission Induction; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D066127:White Matter / Q000473:pathology*
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL