Table 1.
Overlap and differences in clinical characteristics between the metabolic syndrome and Cushing syndrome.
| Metabolic Syndrome | Cushing Syndrome |
|
|---|---|---|
| Plasma Insulin levels | ↑↑ | ↑ * or ↓ ** |
| insulin resistance | + | + |
| AbdominalObesity | + | + |
| impaired glucose tolerance | + | + |
| Hypertriglyceridemia | + | + |
| Hypertension | + | + |
| HPA Activity | ↑ | ↑ |
| Plasma Cortisol | ↓/N | ↑ |
| 24 h-Free Cortisoluria | ↑ | ↑ |
+ = present; ↑ or ↑↑ = elevated; N = normal; ↓ = decreased; * “relative hypoinsulinemia”: insulin levels are increased but lower than would be expected for the actual level of glucose; ** about 20% of patients with Cushing syndrome will finally develop frank diabetes.