The Open Endocrinology Journal

2010, 4 : 1-2
Published online 2010 February 18. DOI: 10.2174/1874216501004010001
Publisher ID: TOEJ-4-1

Sudden Respiratory Failure in a Patient with Cushing`s Syndrome

Sara Lemoinne , Jean-Luc Baudel , Arnaud Galbois , Georges Offenstadt and Eric Maury
Service de Reanimation Medicale, Hopital Saint-Antoine, Assistance Publique-Hopitaux de Paris, 184 rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine, 75571 Cedex 12, Paris, France.

ABSTRACT

A 79 year - old patient with prostate cancer related Cushing`s syndrome was referred to ICU for acute respiratory distress occurring two days after introduction of mifepristone. Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia was diagnosed. Despite anti pneumocystis therapy and supportive treatment, the patient died of multiple organ failure. The relationship between mifepristone and Cushing`s syndrome and potential implications are discussed.