Intermittent Blurry Vision: An Unexpected Presentation of Cushing's Syndrome Due to Primary Bilateral Macronodular Adrenal Hyperplasia (PBMAH)

Cushing's syndrome (CS) is an uncommon endocrine disorder resulting from prolonged exposure to elevated glucocorticoids, with 10-15 million annual cases per the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. Exogenous and endogenous causes can further be divided into adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) dependent (i.e Cushing's Disease) or ACTH independent. ACTH-independent CS can be caused by primary bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia (PBMAH) representing less than 1% cases of CS. We report a case of a woman presenting with chronic resistant hypertension, episodic blurry vision, weight gain and wasting of extremities. She was diagnosed with Cushing's syndrome due to PBMAH. Our patient's presentation was unusual as she presented at 40 years old, 10 years earlier than expected for PBMAH; and primarily with complaints of episodic blurry vision. Her symptoms also progressed rapidly as signs and symptoms largely presented over the course of 12 months, however responded well to surgical resection.

Automated summary

Cushing's syndrome is a rare endocrine disorder caused by prolonged exposure to high levels of glucocorticoids. This case report describes a female patient who presented with chronic resistant hypertension, blurry vision, weight gain, and wasting of extremities, and was diagnosed with Cushing's syndrome due to PBMAH.