# A Case Report of an Elderly Patient With Cushing’s Disease and Multiple Chronic Conditions

**Authors:** Ning Zhang, Yuchen Wei, Xuan Qu, Lin Kang, Xiaohong Liu

PMC · DOI: 10.7759/cureus.63277 · 2024-06-27

## TL;DR

This case report describes an elderly patient with Cushing's disease and multiple chronic conditions, highlighting the challenges in diagnosis and treatment.

## Contribution

The paper provides a detailed case study of CD in an elderly patient with complex comorbidities, offering insights into its management.

## Key findings

- The patient presented with an acute exacerbation of COPD, masking the initial symptoms of Cushing's disease.
- Managing CD in the elderly requires tailored treatment strategies due to overlapping chronic conditions.
- This case emphasizes the importance of considering CD in elderly patients with atypical presentations.

## Abstract

Cushing's disease (CD) is a rare and serious condition characterized by a persistent increase in cortisol levels, resulting in various complications across multiple bodily systems. Elderly individuals often face a multitude of chronic illnesses and geriatric syndromes, which can complicate the diagnosis and treatment of CD in this demographic. This case study details the presentation of an elderly patient with adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-dependent CD, who initially presented with an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The article delves into the unique onset characteristics and treatment strategies for CD in the elderly, providing valuable insights for the comprehensive management of similar clinical cases.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** Cushing's disease (MONDO:0009050), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (MONDO:0005002)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** POMC (proopiomelanocortin) [NCBI Gene 5443] {aka ACTH, CLIP, LPH, MSH, NPP, OBAIRH}
- **Diseases:** CD (MESH:D047748), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (MESH:D029424), Multiple Chronic Conditions (MESH:D000071069)
- **Chemicals:** cortisol (MESH:D006854)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Figures

4 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC11212851/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC11212851