Question: Does Cushing’s syndrome have an effect on the thyroid gland? Are Cushing’s patients more prone to thyroid problems?

Answer: There may be subtle changes in laboratory thyroid function test results. For example, serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels are often low. However these changes are not associated with clinical symptoms. Once the Cushing’s syndrome is cured, the values return to normal. Cushing’s patients are no more prone to thyroid disease than other individuals, but thyroid disease is more common in women during middle age, as is Cushing’s.

By Dr. David Orth MD (November, 1996)