[Cushing syndrome and pregnancy]

Pregnancies in cases of Cushing syndrome are rare. When conception occurs the complication rate is high especially from hypertension and superimposed toxemia. Abortions, premature deliveries, and stillbirth occur more often. In the case described an adenoma of the adrenal gland was diagnosed early in pregnancy. Frequent prenatal care and treatment of the hypertension resulted in a pregnancy of 34 weeks gestation. At this time low HPL and estriol values and variable decelerations forced a Cesarean section. The premature infant was discharged in good condition after several weeks of cortico-steroid substitution. In the mother a well defined adrenal cortical tumour at right was found post-partum. The operative specimen showed an adenomatous nodular adrenal cortical hyperplasia. The described case shows that frequent prenatal care and early hospitalization permit an expectant treatment of pregnancy in cases of Cushing-Syndrome.