Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 3, 2026
Three Different Protocols of Corneal Collagen Crosslinking in Keratoconus: Conventional, Accelerated and Iontophoresis
Published on: November 12, 2015
Ketoconazole in Cushing's disease: is it worth a try?
Frederic Castinetti1, Laurence Guignat, Pauline Giraud
1Aix Marseille Université, Hopital de la Timone (F.C., M.P., I.M., B.C.-D., T.B.), Service d'Endocrinologie, 13005, Marseille, France; Hôpital Cochin Service d'Endocrinologie et Maladies Métaboliques (L.G., L.Q., C.B., J.B.), 75014, Paris, France; Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de Bordeaux Hôpital du Haut Lévêque Service d'Endocrinologie-Diabétologie et Maladies Métaboliques (P.G., A.T.), 33600 Pessac, France; CHU de Grenoble Hôpital Albert Michallon Service d'Endocrinologie-Diabétologie-Nutrition (M.Mu., M.Ma., O.C.), 38043, Grenoble, France; Université Paris-Sud Service d'Endocrinologie et Maladies de la Reproduction (P.K., P.Ch., J.Y.), 94270, Le Kremlin Bicetre, France; CHU de Nantes Hôpital G & R Laënnec St-Herblain Endocrinologie, Maladies Métaboliques et Nutrition (D.D., M.L.B.), 44093, Nantes, France; Hôpital Larrey Service d'Endocrinologie-Maladies Métaboliques-Nutrition (P.Ca., D.V.), 31400, Toulouse, France; CHU de Strasbourg Hôpital de Hautepierre (F.L., B.G.), Service de Médecine Interne et de Nutrition, 67100 Strasbourg, France; Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital St-Antoine Service d'Endocrinologie-Diabétologie et Médecine de la Reproduction (B.Do., S.C.-M.), 75012, Paris, France; Centre Hospitalier Regional Universitaire de Lille Hôpital Claude Huriez, Service d'Endocrinologie Métabolisme (M.C.V.), 59000 Lille, France; Hôpital Avicenne Service d'Endocrinologie, Diabétologie, et Maladies Métaboliques (H.B.), 93000 Bobigny, France; CHU de Reims Hôpital Robert Debré (B.De.), Service d'Endocrinologie-Diabète-Nutrition, 51092, Reims, France; Hôpital Neuro-cardiologique Fédération d'Endocrinologie du Pôle Est (G.R.), 39500 Bron, France; and Hôpital de Bicêtre Endocrinologie Pédiatrique (E.M.), 94270, Le Kremlin Bicetre, France.
Background:
The use of ketoconazole has been recently questioned after warnings from the European Medicine Agencies and the Food and Drug Administration due to potential hepatotoxicity. However, ketoconazole is frequently used as a drug to lower circulating cortisol levels. Several pharmacological agents have recently been approved for the treatment of Cushing's disease (CD) despite limited efficacy or significant side effects. Ketoconazole has been used worldwide for more than 30 years in CD, but in the absence of a large-scale study, its efficacy and tolerance are still under debate.
Patients And Methods:
We conducted a French retrospective multicenter study reviewing data from patients treated by ketoconazole as a single agent for CD, with the aim of clarifying efficacy and tolerance to better determine the benefit/risk balance.
Results:
Data from 200 patients were included in this study. At the last follow-up, 49.3% of patients had normal urinary free cortisol (UFC) levels, 25.6% had at least a 50% decrease, and 25.4% had unchanged UFC levels. The median final dose of ketoconazole was 600 mg/d. Forty patients (20%) received ketoconazole as a presurgical treatment; 40% to 50% of these patients showed improvement of hypertension, hypokalemia, and diabetes, and 48.7% had normal UFC before surgery. Overall, 41 patients (20.5%) stopped the treatment due to poor tolerance. Mild (<5N, inferior to 5-fold normal values) and major (>5N, superior to 5-fold normal values) increases in liver enzymes were observed in 13.5% and 2.5% of patients, respectively. No fatal hepatitis was observed.
Conclusions:
Ketoconazole is an effective drug with acceptable side effects. It should be used under close liver enzyme monitoring. Hepatotoxicity is usually mild and resolves after drug withdrawal.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Cushing Syndrome I: Introduction
01:19Cushing Syndrome II: Pathophysiology
01:21Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Glucocorticoids
01:24Drugs for Peptic Ulcer Disease: Sucralfate as Mucosal Protective Agents
In this scenario, mucosal protective agents like sucralfate play an essential role. Sucralfate, a complex of sulfated sucrose and aluminum hydroxide, demonstrates its usefulness in acidic conditions,...
01:24Cystic Fibrosis: Management
Sinus disease and chronic...
01:27Adrenal Gland Disorders
Adrenal insufficiency, characterized by insufficient cortisol and aldosterone production, leads to conditions like Addison's disease. This disorder, affecting the adrenal cortex, exhibits symptoms such as skin bronzing, dehydration, low blood pressure, fatigue, and weight loss. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia, a genetic ailment causing...