Mifepristone, a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, produces clinical and metabolic benefits in patients with Cushing's syndrome

J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2012 Jun;97(6):2039-49. doi: 10.1210/jc.2011-3350. Epub 2012 Mar 30.

Abstract

Context: Cushing's syndrome (CS) is a disorder associated with significant morbidity and mortality due to prolonged exposure to high cortisol concentrations.

Objective: Our objective was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of mifepristone, a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, in endogenous CS.

Design and setting: We conducted a 24-wk multicenter, open-label trial after failed multimodality therapy at 14 U.S. academic medical centers and three private research centers.

Participants: Participants included 50 adults with endogenous CS associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus/impaired glucose tolerance (C-DM) or a diagnosis of hypertension alone (C-HT).

Intervention: Mifepristone was administered at doses of 300-1200 mg daily.

Main outcome measures: We evaluated change in area under the curve for glucose on 2-h oral glucose test for C-DM and change in diastolic blood pressure from baseline to wk 24 for C-HT.

Results: In the C-DM cohort, an area under the curve for glucose (AUC(glucose)) response was seen in 60% of patients (P < 0.0001). Mean ± sd glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) decreased from 7.43 ± 1.52% to 6.29 ± 0.99% (P < 0.001); fasting plasma glucose decreased from 149.0 ± 75.7 mg/dl (8.3 ± 4.1 mmol/liter) to 104.7 ± 37.5 mg/dl (5.8 ± 2.1 mmol/liter, P < 0.03). In C-HT cohort, a diastolic blood pressure response was seen in 38% of patients (P < 0.05). Mean weight change was -5.7 ± 7.4% (P < 0.001) with waist circumference decrease of -6.78 ± 5.8 cm (P < 0.001) in women and -8.44 ± 5.9 cm (P < 0.001) in men. Overall, 87% (P < 0.0001) had significant improvement in clinical status. Insulin resistance, depression, cognition, and quality of life also improved. Common adverse events were fatigue, nausea, headache, low potassium, arthralgia, vomiting, edema, and endometrial thickening in women.

Conclusions: Mifepristone produced significant clinical and metabolic improvement in patients with CS with an acceptable risk-benefit profile during 6 months of treatment.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00569582.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antihypertensive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Blood Glucose / drug effects
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism
  • Blood Pressure / drug effects
  • Blood Pressure / physiology
  • Body Composition / drug effects
  • Body Composition / physiology
  • Body Weight / drug effects
  • Body Weight / physiology
  • Cushing Syndrome / complications
  • Cushing Syndrome / drug therapy*
  • Cushing Syndrome / metabolism*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / complications
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / drug therapy
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / metabolism
  • Female
  • Glucose Intolerance / complications
  • Glucose Intolerance / drug therapy
  • Glucose Intolerance / metabolism
  • Hormone Antagonists / administration & dosage*
  • Hormone Antagonists / adverse effects
  • Humans
  • Hydrocortisone / blood
  • Hypertension / complications
  • Hypertension / drug therapy
  • Hypertension / metabolism
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mifepristone / administration & dosage*
  • Mifepristone / adverse effects
  • Quality of Life
  • Quinolines / blood
  • Receptors, Glucocorticoid / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Urea / analogs & derivatives
  • Urea / blood

Substances

  • Antihypertensive Agents
  • Blood Glucose
  • Hormone Antagonists
  • Quinolines
  • Receptors, Glucocorticoid
  • Mifepristone
  • Urea
  • 1-(2-(4-benzyl-4-hydroxypiperidin-1-yl)ethyl)-3-(2-methylquinolin-4-yl)urea
  • Hydrocortisone

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT00569582