Journal Article

Discontinuation of Drug Treatment in Cushing's Disease Not Cured by Pituitary Surgery

Gay, Emmanuel, Chabre, Olivier, Simiand, Anna, Cristante, Justine, Drezet, Lucas, Lazard, Arnaud, Ghalawinji, Adel, Chaffanjon, Philippe, Sturm, Nathalie, Muller, Marie

2024

Overview

Abstract Objective When transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) does not cure Cushing's disease (CD), 4 treatments are available: drug treatment (DT), second TSS (2nd TSS), bilateral adrenalectomy (BA), and pituitary radiotherapy (PR). DT is attractive but supposes long-term continuation, which we aimed to evaluate. Design and Methods Retrospective study, in a center prioritizing 2nd TSS, of 36 patients, including 19 with TSS failure and 17 with recurrence, out of 119 patients with CD treated by a first TSS, average follow-up 6.1 years (95% confidence interval 5.27-6.91). Control was defined as normalization of urinary free cortisol (UFC) and final treatment (FT) as the treatment allowing control at last follow-up. We also analyzed discontinuation rates of DT in published CD prospective clinical trials. Results Control was achieved in 33/36 patients (92%). DT was initiated in 29/36 patients (81%), allowing at least 1 normal UFC in 23/29 patients (79%) but was discontinued before last follow-up in 18/29 patients (62%). DT was FT in 11/29 patients (38%), all treated with cortisol synthesis inhibitors. Second TSS was FT in 8/16 (50%), BA in 14/14 (100%), and PR in 0/5. In published trials, discontinuation of DT was 11% to 51% at 1 year and 32% to 74% before 5 years. Conclusion DT allowed at least 1 normal UFC in 23/29 patients (79%) but obtained long-term control in only 11/29 (38%), as discontinuation rate was high, although similar to published data. Interestingly, a successful 2nd TSS was the cause for discontinuing efficient and well-tolerated DT in 5 patients. Further studies will show whether different strategies with cortisol synthesis inhibitors may allow for a lower discontinuation rate in patients not candidates for a 2nd TSS so that BA may be avoided in these patients.

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Subject: Adrenalectomy / Adrenocorticotropic hormone / Cabergoline / Clinical trials / Corticosteroids / Cortisol / Cushing syndrome / Cushing's disease / Hormones / Humans / Hydrocortisone / Ketoconazole / Medical research / Medicine, Experimental / Nervous system diseases / Patients / Pituitary / Pituitary ACTH Hypersecretion - drug therapy / Pituitary ACTH Hypersecretion - surgery / Pituitary Gland - surgery / Prospective Studies / Radiation therapy / Radiotherapy / Retrospective Studies / Surgery / Treatment Outcome