Adrenal adenomata displaying mild autonomous cortisol secretion: a service evaluation of cardiometabolic profile routinely screened patients.

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Authors: Adrian Hugh Heald, Callum Stables, Sarah Jamil, Waseem Majeed, Sangeeth Veluchamy, Rupinder Singh Kochhar, Akheel A. Syed, Rajshekhar N. Mudaliar, Fahmy Hanna, David Marshall, Ian Laing, Mark A. Livingston
+3 more Anthony A. Fryer, Adhithya Sankar, Brian George Keevil
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Abstract

Introduction: A proportion of adrenal adenomata exhibit autonomous cortisol secretion, now termed mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS), as defined by post-1mg overnight dexamethasone suppression test (ONDST) cortisol 51-137 nmol/l. Here, we characterized the cardiometabolic profile of MACS. Methods: Clinical records of 98 individuals with adrenal adenomata were examined. Subcategorization into MACS1 (ONDST cortisol of 50-137 nmol/l) and MACS2 (ONDST cortisol of >137 nmol/l was created to take account of individuals with ONDST cortisol of more than 137 nmol/l and no diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome. Results: = 0.02) in spite of higher rates of statin prescribing. There was a gradient of increasing numbers of antihypertensives prescribed, going from non-MACS NFA to MACS1 to MACS2. Dunn's post hoc analysis indicated an overall more adverse lipid profile in MACS1. Conclusion: The positive direction of associations between serum cortisol and lipid measures highlights that MACS carries a metabolically adverse lipid profile. Diagnosis of MACS was associated with a higher diagnosis rate of CVD and appropriately higher rates of prescription of lipid-lowering agents and a greater number of antihypertensive agents prescribed. The question remains about whether a specific directed treatment of MACS should be offered beyond risk-factor-mitigating management.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Adrenal and Paraganglionic Tumors Hormonal Regulation and Hypertension Adrenal Hormones and Disorders

Publication details

Journal / source
PubMed Central
Volume
15
Issue
1
Pages
e00357–e00357
Publication date
1 March 2026
Language
EN