Unilateral adrenalectomy improves insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus in a patient with ACTH-independent macronodular adrenal hyperplasia

ACTH-independent macronodular adrenal hyperplasia (AIMAH) is a rare cause of Cushing's syndrome. Bilateral adrenalectomy is considered to be a standard therapy for AIMAH, although lifetime replacement of glucocorticoids is necessary after the procedure. This paper describes a subject with AIMAH who underwent unilateral adrenalectomy of the predominantly enlarged gland and subsequently displayed an improvement in insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus, the cardinal symptoms before the operation, concomitant with alleviation of abnormal cortisol secretion. The patient was a 61-year-old man with a body mass index of 25.6 kg/m(2). He was diagnosed as having diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia at 50 years of age. Eight years after diagnosis, bilateral enlargement of the adrenal glands was revealed by chance upon computed tomography of the abdomen. Typical manifestations of Cushing's syndrome were not demonstrated. Basal levels of serum and urinary cortisol had not increased, although the serum cortisol level displayed no circadian rhythm and no response to the administration of dexamethasone. Despite sulfonylurea treatment, the patient's HbA(1C) level was as high as 7.6% (normal range 4.3-5.8%). Fasting insulin concentration was increased to 42.6 muU/ml, and the homeostasis model insulin resistance index (HOMA-R) was calculated to be 15.5 (with a normal range of less than 2.5), indicating severe insulin resistance. Unilateral adrenalectomy of the predominantly enlarged gland revealed that the resected gland consisted of multiple nodules of various sizes. Based on endocrinological, radiological, and pathological findings, a diagnosis of AIMAH was made. Ten months after the unilateral adrenalectomy, cortisol circadian rhythms were restored, and serum cortisol concentration was suppressed in response to the administration of low doses of dexamethasone, suggesting an improvement in the cortisol secretory pattern. Levels of HbA(1C,) fasting insulin, and HOMA-R decreased to 5.7%, 12.7muU/ml, and 2.2, respectively. An improvement in hyperlipidemia was also observed. Insulin resistance and glucose intolerance are recognized as features of mild hypercortisolism. In the present case, unilateral adrenalectomy was effective in ameliorating insulin resistance and improving glycemic control. Unilateral adrenalectomy might be an alternative therapy for improvement of glucose and lipid metabolism in subjects with AIMAH.