Lexic.us

Definition of Hyperadrenocorticism

1. Noun. A glandular disorder caused by excessive cortisol.

Medical Definition of Hyperadrenocorticism

1. Excess hormone called cortisol. Often called cushing's syndrome, it is an extremely complex condition that involves many areas of the body. It results from an excess of cortisol and its effects on the human body. Common symptoms are thinning of the skin, weakness, weight gain, bruising, hypertension, diabetes, weak bones (osteoporosis), facial puffiness, and in women cessation of periods. One of the commonest causes of cushing's syndrome is the administration of cortisol-like medications for the treatment of diverse diseases. All other cases of cushing's syndrome are due to excess production of cortisol by the adrenal gland including 1) an abnormal growth of the pituitary gland, which stimulates the adrenal gland, 2) a benign or malignant growth within the adrenal gland itself, which produces cortisol and 3) production within another part of the body (ectopic production) of a hormone that directly or indirectly stimulates the adrenal gland to make cortisol. Harvey cushing (1869-1939), a neurosurgeon, described hyperadrenocorticism due specifically to an acth-secreting basophilic pituitary adenoma, a benign pituitary tumour that puts out acth (adrenocorticotropic hormone) that, in turn, drives (or overdrives) the adrenal gland. (12 Dec 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Hyperadrenocorticism

Literary usage of Hyperadrenocorticism

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Mammalian Models for Research on Aging by Bennett J. Cohen, Institute Of Laboratory Animal Resources, National Research Council Staff (1981)
"... and heart, but these may be secondary to hyperadrenocorticism (Wexler et aj.. , l97l), and vascular lesions appear to precede the metabolic derangements ..."

2. Code of Federal Regulations by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Staff (2005)
"For control of clinical signs associated with uncomplicated pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism in dogs. (ii) Limitations. Administer orally once daily ..."

3. Diabetes in America by Ronald Aubert (1996)
"Pupo AA, Wajchenberg BL, Schnaider J: Carbohydrate metabolism in hyperadrenocorticism. Diabetes 15:24-29, ..."

4. Reviews in Environmental Health (1998): Toxicological Defense Mechanics edited by Gary E. R. Hook, George W. Lucier (2000)
"hyperadrenocorticism and food restriction-induced life extension in the rat: evidence for divergent regulation of pituitary proopiomelanocortin RNA and ..."

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