Etomidate in the treatment of Cushing syndrome

N Vergara Molina; N Ruiz Andrés; N Casas Martín; C Ruano Suárez; I Castelo Korro; A Martínez Ruiz

doi:10.1016/j.redare.2023.09.001

Etomidate in the treatment of Cushing syndrome

Rev Esp Anestesiol Reanim (Engl Ed). 2023 Oct;70(8):473-476. doi: 10.1016/j.redare.2023.09.001. Epub 2023 Sep 6.

Authors

N Vergara Molina¹, N Ruiz Andrés², N Casas Martín³, C Ruano Suárez¹, I Castelo Korro¹, A Martínez Ruiz¹

Affiliations

¹ Hospital Universitario Cruces, Barakaldo, Bizkaia, Spain.
² Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, Spain.
³ Hospital Universitario Cruces, Barakaldo, Bizkaia, Spain. Electronic address: naara.casasmartin@osakidetza.eus.

PMID: 37678461
DOI: 10.1016/j.redare.2023.09.001

Abstract

Cushing syndrome is a metabolic disease caused by chronic exposure to high levels of glucocorticoids. It can present as an endocrine emergency due to a rapid increase in circulating cortisol leading to increased risk of cardiovascular disease and infection. Etomidate rapidly reduces plasma cortisol levels by inhibiting the action of 11β-hidroxilase. We report the case of a patient with severe hypercortisolaemia accompanied by metabolic and psychiatric disorders in whom administration of etomidate reduced preoperative levels of cortisol.

Keywords: Anaesthesiology; Anestesiología; Cushing syndrome; Etomidate; Etomidato; Hipercortisolismo; Hypercortisolaemia; Síndrome de Cushing.

Publication types

Case Reports