Glucocorticoids and Cushing Syndrome: A Tale of Three Cases

Potent anti-inflammatory effects of glucocorticoids finds its widespread use in diseases ranging from rheumatologic conditions such as arthritis and lupus to asthma and myasthenia gravis.  Their immunosuppressive effects are used to prevent graft rejection in transplant patients and to help treat hematologic based cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma. Despite having dramatic clinical benefits, potential adverse effects with the development of Cushing’s syndrome are matters of serious concerns in glucocorticoid therapy. Amongst various etiologies of Cushing’s syndrome, iatrogenic causes are the most common, which can be secondary to prolonged use of glucocorticoids. The present case series describes three such cases. Potential development of Cushing’s syndrome as a consequence of the glucocorticoids therapy mandates careful consideration and close management of their use.