A young adult woman with severe osteoporosis due to Cushing's disease: A case report and literatures review

In patients with Cushing's syndrome, the most common cause is iatrogenically excessive use of glucocorticoids. The second most common form is Cushing's disease. Glucocorticoids have a direct effect on bone, causing inhibition of bone formation and enhancing bone resorption. Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) is one of the most important side effects of glucocorticoid use, as it could result in an increased risk of fractures. However, severe osteoporosis due to endogenous hypercortisolism was relatively uncommon in the clinical setting, especially for a young adult woman. Therefore, we present a case of a 35-year-old premenopausal woman with Cushing's disease who presented with a low trauma fracture. We hope that our experience of this case will remind doctors to be aware of this unusual complication of Cushing's disease.