Pregnancy-induced Cushing’s syndrome in recurrent pregnancies: Case report and literature review

Abstract

Pregnancy in women with Cushing's syndrome (CS) is uncommon. It is associated with significant maternal and fetal complications. Pregnancy-induced Cushing's syndrome is exceptionally rare with fewer than ten cases reported in the world literature and none in Australia or New Zealand. We describe a woman with possible recurrent pregnancy-induced CS complicating five pregnancies over a 7-year period. We discuss the changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis during normal pregnancy together with the diagnosis, aetiology and management of CS in pregnancy.