Cushing's syndrome

Clinical manifestations include weight gain, high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, red stripes on the abdomen (striae rubrae), hair loss and, in women, hirsutism, i.e. abnormal hair growth. There is a secondary type of this syndrome, i.e. dependent on a pituitary tumour leading to excessive production of the hormone ACTH, which in turn stimulates the adrenal gland to produce excessive amounts of cortisol.