Thomas, Melinda

Abstract Disclosure: J. Saini: None. R. Nathani: None. S. Singh: None. K. Thangamuthu: None. M. Suresh: None. C. Zhang: None. A.L. Ebbehøj: None. M. Thomas: None. V. Fell: None. E. Atkinson: None. S. Achenbach: None. N. Stricker: None. I. Bancos: None. Introduction: While patients with overt Cushing syndrome are reported to have impaired cognition, the impact of milder, long-standing hypercortisolism on cognition is incompletely characterized. Objective: To determine the impact of MACS on cognition as compared to age, sex, and education-matched referent subjects. Methods: We conducted a single-center cross-sectional study of adults with MACS and referent subjects. MACS was defined as serum cortisol>1.8 mcg/dL after 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test (DST) in patients with adrenal incidentalomas. Referent subjects were included if they had abdominal imaging and had no adrenal disorders. Exclusion criteria were malignancy and exogenous glucocorticoid use within 1 year. All participants underwent a cognitive evaluation using the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery between 1/2019 to 7/2022. NIH Toolbox assesses 8 cognitive domains using 7 tests and yields 3 composite scores: fluid cognition (executive function, episodic memory, cognitive flexibility, working memory, and processing speed), crystallized cognition (language and vocabulary), and total composite cognition (composite of all). Results are given in fully corrected T scores (adjusted for age, sex, race, and education) with an average of 50 and a standard deviation (SD) of 10. A subgroup analysis was performed based on DST cortisol. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare scores between groups. Results: A total of 94 patients with MACS (median age 57.2 years, IQR 47.8-66.5, 70% women) and 94 referent subjects (median age 58 years, IQR 49.1-66.4, 70% women) were included. The median post-DST cortisol in patients with MACS was 3.3 mcg/dL (IQR, 2.4-6.2). The mean (SD) total composite T-score was lower in patients with MACS vs referent subjects (51 (9.1) vs 56.3 (9.3), P<0.001). Patients with MACS demonstrated lower mean fluid composite T-score when compared to referent subjects (49.5 (10.4) vs 56.9 (9.7), P<0.001). However, mean crystallized composite T-scores were similar in patients with MACS and referent subjects (52.3 (8.1) vs 53.9 (9.6), P=0.342). A subgroup analysis of patients with post-DST cortisol <3 mcg/dL (n=40) vs patients with post-DST cortisol >3 mcg/dL (n=54) did not show any differences in the total, fluid, or crystalized composite scores. Conclusion: Patients with MACS demonstrate lower cognitive performances than a referent group suggesting MACS has a subtle impact on cognitive functioning. The pattern of cognitive impairment in patients with MACS is similar to that seen with normal cognitive aging: impaired fluid cognitions and unaffected crystallized cognition). Cognitive performance did not differ based on the degree of MACS suggesting that in the absence of overt features of hypercortisolism, the degree of MACS is less important than the presence of MACS. Presentation: Thursday, June 15, 2023

Abstract Context Interpretation of dexamethasone suppression test (DST) may be influenced by dexamethasone absorption and metabolism and by the altered cortisol binding. Objective We aimed to determine the normal ranges of free cortisol during DST in participants without adrenal disorders and to identify the population of patients where post-DST free cortisol measurements add value to the diagnostic workup. Design and Setting Cross-sectional study conducted in a tertiary medical center. Participants Adult volunteers without adrenal disorders (n = 168; 47 women on oral contraceptive therapy [OCP], 66 women not on OCP, 55 men) and patients undergoing evaluation for hypercortisolism (n = 196; 16 women on OCP). Measurements Post-DST dexamethasone and free cortisol (mass spectrometry) and total cortisol (immunoassay). Main Outcome Measures Reference range for post-DST free cortisol, diagnostic accuracy of post-DST total cortisol. Results Adequate dexamethasone concentrations (≥0.1 mcg/dL) were seen in 97.6% volunteers and 96.3% patients. Only 25.5% of women volunteers on OCP had abnormal post-DST total cortisol (>1.8 mcg/dL). In volunteers, the upper post-DST free cortisol range was 48 ng/dL in men and women not on OCP, and 79 ng/dL in women on OCP. When compared with post-DST free cortisol, diagnostic accuracy of post-DST total cortisol was 87.3% (95% CI, 81.7-91.7); all false-positive results occurred in patients with post-DST cortisol between 1.8 and 5 mcg/dL. OCP use was the only factor associated with false-positive results (21.1% vs 4.9%, P = 0.02). Conclusions Post-DST free cortisol measurements are valuable in patients with optimal dexamethasone concentrations and post-DST total cortisol between 1.8 and 5 mcg/dL.

Autonomous cortisol secretion (ACS) affects up to 50% of patients with adrenal adenomas. Despite the limited evidence, clinical guidelines recommend measurement of serum concentrations of dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S) and corticotropin (ACTH) to aid in the diagnosis of ACS. Our objective was to determine the accuracy of serum concentrations of DHEA-S and ACTH in diagnosing ACS. We conducted a retrospective single center study of adults with adrenal adenoma evaluated between 2000−2020. Main outcome measure was diagnostic accuracy of DHEA-S and ACTH. ACS was defined as post-dexamethasone cortisol >1.8 mcg/dL. Of 468 patients, ACS was diagnosed in 256 (55%) patients with a median post-DST cortisol of 3.45 mcg/dL (range, 1.9–32.7). Patients with ACS demonstrated lower serum concentrations of DHEA-S (35 vs. 87.3 mcg/dL, p < 0.0001) and ACTH (8.3 vs. 16 pg/mL, p < 0.0001) compared to patients with non-functioning adrenal tumors (NFAT). Serum DHEA-S concentration <40 mcg/dL diagnosed ACS with 84% specificity and 81% PPV, while serum ACTH concentration <10 pg/mL diagnosed ACS with 75% specificity and 78% PPV. The combination of serum concentrations of DHEA-S <40 mcg/dL and ACTH <10 pg/mL diagnosed ACS with the highest accuracy with 92% specificity and 87% PPV. Serum concentrations of DHEA-S and ACTH provide additional value in diagnosing ACS.

Abstract Context Several studies have reported increased risk of fragility fractures in patients with mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS), discordant to the degree of bone density deterioration. Objective To evaluate the effect of MACS on bone metabolism in patients with adrenal adenomas. Design Cross-sectional study with prospective enrollment, 2014-2019 Setting Referral center. Patients 213 patients with adrenal adenomas: 22 Cushing syndrome (CS), 92 MACS and 99 nonfunctioning adrenal tumors (NFAT). Main Outcome Measures Osteocalcin, procollagen I intact N-terminal (PINP), C-terminal telopeptide (CTX), sclerostin. Results Patients with CS demonstrated lower markers of bone formation compared with patients with MACS and NFAT (CS vs MACS vs NFAT: mean osteocalcin 14.8 vs 20.1 vs 21.3 ng/mL [P &lt; 0.0001]; mean PINP 34.8 vs 48.7 vs 48.5 µg/L [P = 0.003]). Severity of cortisol excess was inversely associated with sclerostin (CS vs MACS vs NFAT: mean sclerostin 419 vs 538 vs 624 ng/L, [P &lt; 0.0001]). In a multivariable model of age, sex, body mass index, cortisol, and bone turnover markers, sclerostin was a significant predictor of low bone mass in patients with MACS (OR 0.63 [CI 95%, 0.40–0.98] for each 100 ng/L of sclerostin increase). After adrenalectomy, osteocalcin, CTX, and sclerostin increased by a mean difference of 6.3 ng/mL, 0.12 ng/mL, and 171 pg/mL (P = 0.02 for all), respectively. Conclusions Lower sclerostin level in patients with MACS reflects a reduction in osteocyte function or number associated with exposure to chronic cortisol excess. Increase in bone turnover markers after adrenalectomy suggests restoration of favorable bone metabolism.

SummaryContextAbdominal visceral adiposity and central sarcopenia are markers of increased cardiovascular risk and mortality.ObjectiveTo assess whether central sarcopenia and adiposity can serve as a marker of disease severity in patients with adrenal adenomas and glucocorticoid secretory autonomy.DesignRetrospective cohort study.PatientsTwenty‐five patients with overt Cushing's syndrome (CS), 48 patients with mild autonomous cortisol excess (MACE) and 32 patients with a nonfunctioning adrenal tumour (NFAT) were included.MethodsMedical records were reviewed, and body composition measurements (visceral fat [VAT], subcutaneous fat [SAT], visceral/total fat [V/T], visceral/subcutaneous [V/S] and total abdominal muscle mass) were calculated based on abdominal computed tomography (CT).ResultsIn patients with overt CS, when compared to patients with NFAT, the V/T fat and the V/S ratio were increased by 0.08 (P < .001) and by 0.3 (P < .001); however, these measurements were decreased by 0.04 (P = .007) and 0.2 (P = .01), respectively, in patients with MACE. Total muscle mass was decreased by −10 cm2 (P = .02) in patients with overt CS compared to patients with NFAT. Correlation with morning serum cortisol concentrations after dexamethasone suppression testing revealed that for every 28 nmol/L cortisol increase there was a 0.008 increase in V/T (P < .001), 0.02 increase in the V/S fat ratio (P < .001) and a 1.2 cm2 decrease in mean total muscle mass (P = .002).ConclusionsThe severity of hypercortisolism was correlated with lower muscle mass and higher visceral adiposity. These CT‐based markers may allow for a more reliable and objective assessment of glucocorticoid‐related disease severity in patients with adrenal adenomas.