This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Cizza, G. Articles by Chrousos, G. P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Cizza, G. Articles by Chrousos, G. P.

Plasma Leptin Levels Do not Change in Patients with Cushing’s Disease Shortly after Correction of Hypercortisolism

Developmental Endocrinology Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (G.C., A.J.L., G.P.C.), and Clinical Neuroendocrinology Branch (G.C., J.L., P.W.G.), National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Giovanni Cizza, M.D., Ph.D., National Institutes of Health, Building 10, Room 10N-262, 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1862.

In the present study, we characterized the changes in plasma leptin levels in patients with pituitary Cushing’s disease and in age- and sex-matched controls. Plasma levels of ACTH, cortisol, and leptin were measured before and after iv administration of ovine CRH in controls once and in patients twice (while they had active hypercortisolism and 10 days after successful surgery). Cushing’s patients had elevated body mass indexes (34 ± 1.9 vs. 22.9 ± 0.8) and plasma leptin levels (35.6 ± 3.4 vs. 9.2 ± 1.9 ng/mL) compared to controls, which remained unchanged 10 days after successful transsphenoidal surgery and directly proportional to the body mass index. Plasma leptin levels were not affected by CRH infusion in either the controls or the patients despite clear-cut elevations in plasma ACTH and cortisol. These findings suggest that although acute changes in plasma cortisol do not affect plasma leptin, chronic hypercortisolism results in elevated leptin levels, probably by causing visceral obesity.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Bloch, D. R. Rubinow, P. J. Schmidt, A. Lotsikas, G. P. Chrousos, and G. Cizza Cortisol Response to Ovine Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone in a Model of Pregnancy and Parturition in Euthymic Women with and without a History of Postpartum Depression J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 2005; 90(2): 695 - 699. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. O. van Aken, A. M. Pereira, M. Frolich, J. A. Romijn, H. Pijl, J. D. Veldhuis, and F. Roelfsema Growth hormone secretion in primary adrenal Cushing's syndrome is disorderly and inversely correlated with body mass index Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, January 1, 2005; 288(1): E63 - E70. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Vozarova, C. Weyer, S. Snitker, J.-F. Gautier, G. Cizza, G. Chrousos, E. Ravussin, and P. A. Tataranni Effect of Cortisol on Muscle Sympathetic Nerve Activity in Pima Indians and Caucasians J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., July 1, 2003; 88(7): 3218 - 3226. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Ueland, C. Kristo, K. Godang, P. Aukrust, and J. Bollerslev Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist Is Associated with Fat Distribution in Endogenous Cushing's Syndrome: A Longitudinal Study J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., April 1, 2003; 88(4): 1492 - 1496. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. E. Gemmill, R. L. Eskay, N. L. Hall, L. W. Douglass, and T. W. Castonguay Leptin Suppresses Food Intake and Body Weight in Corticosterone-Replaced Adrenalectomized Rats J. Nutr., February 1, 2003; 133(2): 504 - 509. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Charmandari, M. Weise, S. R. Bornstein, G. Eisenhofer, M. F. Keil, G. P. Chrousos, and D. P. Merke Children with Classic Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Have Elevated Serum Leptin Concentrations and Insulin Resistance: Potential Clinical Implications J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., May 1, 2002; 87(5): 2114 - 2120. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. A. Gusenoff, S. M. Harman, J. D. Veldhuis, J. J. Jayme, C. St. Clair, T. Munzer, C. Christmas, K. G. O'Connor, T. E. Stevens, M. F. Bellantoni, et al. Cortisol and GH secretory dynamics, and their interrelationships, in healthy aged women and men Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, April 1, 2001; 280(4): E616 - E625. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Lacroix, N. N'Diaye, J. Tremblay, and P. Hamet Ectopic and Abnormal Hormone Receptors in Adrenal Cushing's Syndrome Endocr. Rev., February 1, 2001; 22(1): 75 - 110. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M. Weise, V. Abad, R. V. Considine, L. Nieman, and K. I. Rother Leptin Secretion in Cushing's Syndrome: Preservation of Diurnal Rhythm and Absent Response to Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., June 1, 1999; 84(6): 2075 - 2079. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				C. S. Mantzoros The Role of Leptin in Human Obesity and Disease: A Review of Current Evidence Ann Intern Med, April 20, 1999; 130(8): 671 - 680. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. W. Newcomer, G. Selke, A. K. Melson, J. Gross, G. P. Vogler, and S. Dagogo-Jack Dose-Dependent Cortisol-Induced Increases in Plasma Leptin Concentration in Healthy Humans Arch Gen Psychiatry, November 1, 1998; 55(11): 995 - 1000. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. S. Wand and H. Schumann Relationship between Plasma Adrenocorticotropin, Hypothalamic Opioid Tone, and Plasma Leptin J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., June 1, 1998; 83(6): 2138 - 2142. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				D. Torpy, S. Bornstein, G Cizza, and G. Chrousos The Effects of Glucocorticoids on Leptin Levels in Humans May Be Restricted to Acute Pharmacologic Dosinga J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., May 1, 1998; 83(5): 1821 - 1822. [Full Text]

				S. R. Bornstein, E. L. Webster, D. J. Torpy, S. J. Richman, N. Mitsiades, M. Igel, D. B. Lewis, K. C. Rice, H. G. Joost, M. Tsokos, et al. Chronic Effects of a Nonpeptide Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone Type I Receptor Antagonist on Pituitary-Adrenal Function, Body Weight, and Metabolic Regulation Endocrinology, April 1, 1998; 139(4): 1546 - 1555. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Widjaja, T. H. Schürmeyer, A. Von Zur Mühlen, and G. Brabant Determinants of Serum Leptin Levels in Cushing's Syndrome J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 1998; 83(2): 600 - 603. [Abstract] [Full Text]